Microsoft working on a major update for its file manager

Jan 25, 2023 06:35 GMT  ·  By

After shipping the highly anticipated support for tabs, it now looks like Microsoft is truly committed to turning File Explorer into a fully featured file manager.

And according to WindowsCentral, the software giant is already working on a massive overhaul, with internal mockups already providing us with a closer look at how File Explorer is supposed to evolve in Windows 11.

The biggest change is the modern UI, which aligns with the rest of the operating system as well. For example, Microsoft is updating both the search box and even the header buttons, with everything now sporting a cleaner but also more intuitive approach.

The headers are no longer as cluttered as they are in the current versions of Windows 11, and the focus is clearly put on the essential tasks that users typically rely on in the file manager. The tabs are also easier to use thanks to the cleaner UI.

When it comes to features, the biggest change is the new “home” interface.

With a Recommended section, which will have File Explorer automatically suggest files that users might be interested in working with, the home screen is getting a major overhaul. This section can include everything from documents to email attachments, as Microsoft apparently wants to turn File Explorer into a tool that would be a part of its focus on collaboration software.

The app will also feature Microsoft 365 integration, so this approach makes perfect sense.

File Explorer is also getting a new details pane that will make it easier to see information on each file, and we’re being told that Microsoft might also be working on tags to make file management even easier. This is something that has been around for quite some time on Macs, and the feature would certainly come in handy on Windows as well.

At this point, an ETA as to when the new features are projected to go live isn’t available, but they should start showing up for insiders sooner rather than later.