Raise your hand if you've heard this one before: a third-party file management app beat File Explorer to the punch. This time, it's with a clever Tree View that rolled out to Files with an update to version 4.2.
In the latest version of Files, the sidebar includes a view that displays folders in an expandable hierarchy. If you're like me and use subfolders to organize your files, Tree View is an incredible addition.
The update to version 4.2 is large and includes several other additions, including a new Open With flyout and improvements to how the breadcrumb bar appears.
Here's a quick summary of what's new in Files version 4.2 sorted into categories. The app's website has a detailed change log covering the same updates:
Navigation & Multi-Pane Upgrades
- Tree View sidebar: Browse folders in an expandable hierarchy directly from the sidebar.
- Drag a tab to create a new pane: Split your view by dragging a tab to the side, top, or bottom of the file area.
- Open folders in the other pane: Right-click a folder to launch it directly into your secondary pane.
- Open in new pane improvements: Reorganized context menus and Command Palette options give you control over how a new pane is arranged.
- Breadcrumb bar improvements: Adds a cleaner chevron design and new right-click context options to open specific folders in new tabs, windows, or panes.
UI & Quality of Life Tweaks
- Open With toolbar flyout: Quick access to compatible apps directly from your customized toolbar.
- Always show file extensions when renaming: Extensions stay visible while editing a file's name.
- Media file metadata improvements: You can now add metadata to fields that were previously empty.
- Search in Toolbar Customization: A new search box makes finding and adding specific toolbar actions easier.
- Layout scrolling: Cycle through different layout modes using Ctrl + scroll wheel.
- Reverse tab scroll direction: A new setting lets you flip the mouse-wheel behavior when scrolling over the tab bar.
- Improved tab tear-off: Dragging a tab out to create a new window now launches the window exactly where you dropped it.
- Improved continue where you left off: Startup behavior is more reliable.
- Network Discovery banner: Displays a warning on the Network page if locations are missing because Windows Network Discovery is turned off.
Other Notable Highlights
- Windows Fonts folder: Items inside this directory now show proper font thumbnails.
- Archive selection: Creating a new archive now automatically selects it.
- File In Use dialog: Added a "Skip" button.
I'm a big fan of Files, not just as a replacement to Windows 11's built-in File Explorer, but as a showcase of design and features. The developer of Files often experiments with new designs to improve usability or functionality within the app.
There are plenty of File Explorer alternatives, like File Pilot that's now in beta. But I have an affinity for Files. It's a gorgeous app that integrates features and design elements that are often adopted by Microsoft later. Using Files is like looking at an alternate dimension in which Microsoft cares about consistency and design.
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