Windows 10 Mobile's UWP File Explorer app appears on Xbox One, file storage on the way?

One aspect of the current Xbox One Insider Preview wave that seems to have slipped by the build notes is the inclusion of the UWP File Explorer app, making its way across from Windows 10 Mobile.

For those who are unfamiliar, Windows 10 Mobile utilizes a fairly basic UWP file explorer app to allow phone users to browse and manage the content on their device's storage. That very same app is now live on Xbox One, natively, for those installing 1703 builds on the Xbox Insider Program. It even has an Xbox icon on the menu bar, replacing the mobile symbol on phones.

I tried to use the new File Explorer app with a few other programs to no avail. MyTube! Beta was able to create an app folder in the new File Explorer for storing YouTube videos offline, but it doesn't seem to be fully functional just yet. Additionally, the UWP Photos app won't allow you to move pictures from OneDrive to the Xbox One's storage, unlike on Windows 10 Mobile.

The Photos app does, however, give us a local folder under U:\Users\UserMgr0\Pictures, in addition to a Camera Roll. Microsoft's Mike Ybarra recently spoke about how Microsoft is eventually planning to allow third-party USB webcams on Xbox One, so it makes sense that you would also be able to use the UWP Camera app to send photographs to your local storage this way.

It's important to note, by the way, that this doesn't provide full access to the Xbox system or game files like the full Windows File Explorer does. It looks as though the Xbox UWP version will be accessible only by apps, as it should be.

One thing's for certain — this is no accident. The Xbox is getting more and more PC-like with every update, bringing more and more capabilities to the Xbox standardized by the Universal Windows Platform. With the advent of Windows' new adaptive shells, one has to wonder how long before we'll see a Continuum-like UWP-based Desktop and Start Menu on the Xbox One, for those wanting to get even more out of their console.

Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!