What you need to know
- Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 11 September 26, 2023 Update this week.
- The update adds several features to File Explorer, including a redesigned header, a new details pane, and a redesigned home page.
- File Explorer also lost the ability to drag and drop a file into the address bar as part of its update.
The Windows 11 September 26, 2023 Update with Copilot adds several features to the operating systems. Among the improvements are multiple redesigned elements within File Explorer. Unfortunately, the update also removes the ability to drag and drop an item into a tab within File Explorer.
Microsoft updated the codebase of File Explorer in the latest Windows 11 update. That's mostly a good thing as the end result is a modern File Explorer with an improved header, details pane, and home page. File Explorer also has a new gallery feature that makes it easier to manage your images. Microsoft even tossed in support for RAR and 7-Zip to improve file management.
While the new File Explorer is better overall, it now lacks a feature that some used to organize files. With previous versions of File Explorer, you could drag an item into the address bar to move it. Microsoft took that option out when it updated File Explorer in the Windows 11 September 26, 2023 Update.
The folks over at Windows Latest spotted the omission. I was surprised to see the change, but my testing shows the same thing. The feature was useful in a few different use cases, including dragging a file from one folder into an open folder in another tab.
Microsoft has removed features before, especially when moving from one codebase to another. There's a chance that drag and drop into the address bar was used infrequently. There's also a chance that Microsoft will add it back in the future.
