What Is File Explorer? [Everything You Need to Know]

If you're new to using computers, laptops, or other devices, you might not know what File Explorer is. File Explorer (or Windows Explorer) is an application that helps you manage your files, storage space, and apps.

This article will focus on what the File Explorer is and its features, to make your everyday device usage smooth and worthwhile.

What is File Explorer?

As we mentioned earlier, the File Explorer, also known as Windows Explorer, is a file management application. The main purpose of File Explorer is to help you access your files and folders quickly.

With this app, you can also edit and manage data. It typically handles a computer's drives, folders, and files. File Explorer is a file browser that has been included in every version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95.

The File Explorer offers an advanced search feature that helps you find any file or data stored on your device based on various attributes.

The best feature is the ability to copy and transfer two or more files simultaneously in a single window/screen. Additionally, you can pause, stop, or cancel the file copying process.

What can you do with File Explorer?

We've already touched on some common uses of a file explorer. In this lesson, we'll delve into more of the features and purposes you can easily accomplish with this application.

Here are some examples and features that File Explorer provides:

1. Open a document.

Opening documents through the File Explorer is a fundamental and frequently used function in computers, utilized extensively by all users. Microsoft introduced a folder called "My Documents" in the Windows system, which enables users to more easily locate their documents in one place.

You can open the "Documents" folder and double-click on the file you need to open it.

If your Windows 11/10 File Explorer is not opening, you might be at a loss; this article could provide the solutions you need.

How to Fix File Explorer Not Opening in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Can't open File Explorer from the taskbar, or having issues opening files and folders in Windows 10 or Windows 11? This page summarizes nine simple methods and provides the most effective solution.

2. Search for files or folders

In File Explorer, you can use the "Search" tab to quickly find the files or folders you want to open. These search features can also be accessed using the F3 key as a shortcut.

3. Copy the file

With File Explorer, you can copy multiple files from one location to another of your choosing.

Step 1. First, head to your desktop and locate the file or folder you want to copy. Select the item, right-click on it, and choose "Copy" to proceed. You can also use the "Ctrl + C" shortcut.

Select the “Copy” option.

Step 2: Open the folder where you want to copy the files. Right-click and select "Paste" or press "Ctrl + V."

Press and hold Ctrl, then press V.

4. Moving Files and Folders

You can also move any files and folders from your current location to a destination of your choice. This can be done using the "cut and paste" technique or by simply dragging the file into the desired folder.

Method 1: Right-click on the file or folder you want to move, and select "Cut." Right-click in the new location and select "Paste." You can also use keyboard shortcuts: "Ctrl+X" to cut the file, then "Ctrl+V" to paste it where you want it.

Select the files and folders you want to move

Method 2: You can also move files and folders by dragging them. Just hold down on the file you want to move and drag it to the new location.

5. Delete files from your device

Deleting them frees up space for other important data and makes your device run faster.

From the Windows Explorer, select the file or folder you want to delete to remove the desired files. You can use the "Delete" key on your keyboard or right-click with your mouse and choose the "Delete" option.

6. Renaming Files and Folders

Like copy, move, and delete, the File Explorer also lets you rename any file or folder on your computer. This method works for most file types, like photos, text files, documents, and more.

Method 1: First, select the file or folder you want to rename. Right-click it and choose “Rename.”

Method 2: You can also rename a file by selecting it and pressing F2.

Create a shortcut

Shortcuts help you quickly find files or folders and access programs. Here's how to create a shortcut to a file or folder in just a few steps:

Open File Explorer, and then navigate to the folder containing the file you need. Right-click the program you want to use, then select "Create shortcut." This will create a shortcut to the selected program in the current directory.

8. Open a program

You can also open programs from the C Drive's “Program Files” folder using File Explorer. Find the executable file within the program's folder to run it. If the name of the file and the program are the same, then that is the executable file.

How to Open File Explorer in Windows 10

File Explorer is an essential app that you can open and access in several ways. Here are some methods:

• Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcut
• Method 2: Clicking Taskbar Icon
• Method 3: Using the Start Menu
• Method 4: Using the Search Box
• Method 5: Using the Run Command
• Method 6: Issuing a Cortana Command

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

This is the quickest way if you remember the keyboard shortcut. Press the “Win+E” keys to open File Explorer.

Method 2: By Clicking the Taskbar Icon

The taskbar at the bottom of the Windows screen is a graphical user interface.

1. Click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar to open it.

Step 2: If the icon is missing or has been removed from the taskbar, restart it.

Step 3: Launch File Explorer, and then right-click its icon on the taskbar.

Step 4: Finally, choose “Pin to Taskbar” to keep the icon. You can drag it to any position on the taskbar that you like.

Method 3: Through the Start Menu

You can also open File Explorer from the Start menu:

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and select “Search” from the bottom bar.

Step 2: Select "File Explorer" from the list to open it. You can also use the keyboard shortcut "Windows key + E" to do this.

Method 4: Use the Search Bar

Using the search box to open File Explorer is one of the simplest and earliest methods.

Step 1: Type "File Explorer" in the search bar, and display the related results.

Step 2: Click the program you want to open, and you're done.

By using the search box

Method 5: Use the Run Button

You can also open File Explorer through the “Run” application by following these steps:

Step 1: Press the "Windows + R" keys to open the "Run" window, a dialog box will appear.

Step 2: Type Explorer in the box, and then click OK.

Method 6: Through Cortana Command

If your computer has a microphone, you can open File Explorer with Cortana. This is the circular icon on the taskbar.

1. Click on “Cortana,” which will open a window.

Step 2: Click the microphone icon and say “Open File Explorer.”

Step 3: File Explorer will open, and Cortana will respond with, “I've opened File Explorer.”

Conclusions

All in all, though it may seem daunting to use so many applications on a computer, there is no need to worry. Once you get the hang of the programs and features and learn the easiest ways to do things, they can be used effectively.

In this article, we discussed how to use File Explorer and the various ways to open it on your device. Next time, give these methods a try to access and utilize this application for an enhanced computer experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About File Explorer

Here are some basic answers about File Explorer.

**How to delete duplicate files in File Explorer?** To delete duplicate files in File Explorer, follow these steps: 1. Open "File Explorer." 2. Navigate to the folder containing the duplicate files. 3. Press `Ctrl + A` to select all files in the folder, or manually choose the files you suspect are duplicates. 4. Right-click on the selected files and choose "Sort by" > "Name" to sort them alphabetically by filename. 5. Carefully examine the file list to identify potential duplicates. Often, duplicate files will appear consecutively. 6. For each group of duplicate files, keep one file you want to retain, then right-click the remaining files and select "Delete." 7. In the confirmation dialog, click "Delete Files" to permanently remove them or choose "Move to Trash" to send them to the Recycle Bin. 8. Remember to empty the Recycle Bin afterward to ensure the files are fully deleted. If you have a large number of duplicates to delete, consider using dedicated third-party software like "Duplicate Cleaner" or "CCleaner." These tools can automatically detect and remove duplicate files. When using such utilities, make sure you understand their features and proceed with caution to avoid accidentally deleting important files.

The following steps will guide you through removing duplicate files from File Explorer:

Step 1: Search for "Indexing Options." Click "Modify," and then select "Show all locations." A window will pop up asking for your login information. Make sure to use an administrator account when making changes with this setting.

Step 2: Check all the boxes under "Changes to the selected location." Click OK, and then choose Close.

Step 3. Open File Explorer and navigate to the "Users" folder. Click on the search bar in the top-right corner and type in the file extension of the type of file you're looking for, such as .jpg, .png, .doc, and so on.

Step 4. Sort the search results by “Name” or “Size.” Now, check the duplicate files saved at different locations. After examining the files, select the ones you wish to delete, and finally press the “Delete” button on your keyboard.

2. How do I make File Explorer always show details?

You can accomplish this by tweaking your settings. File Explorer usually shows icons for some files and hides them for others, but you can change this with the following steps:

Step 1: Open File Explorer, and from the "View" menu, choose "Layout" and then "Details." In the top-right corner of the menu, click "Options" and then select "Change folder and search options."

Step 2: A dialog box will appear. Select the "View" tab. Check or uncheck the boxes for the items you want.

Step 3: Click “Apply,” then select “Apply to all folders.”