This Windows File Explorer replacement is everything that I need

I have been a Windows user for as long as I can remember. For the most part, I used the default Microsoft apps. They are safe and reliable, and since they come from Microsoft, there is less chance of my data being compromised. However, as I dived deep into the world of technology, I understood that they are a bit boring.

The default File Explorer is the perfect example. It does the job, for sure, but I believe that it hasn’t received as many upgrades as it should have. I wanted something modern and something that could adapt to how I use my computer today. Enter Files, an open-source file manager that completely replaced File Explorer on my laptop. After using it for a few months, I can officially say I am never going back.

Files is the perfect blend of modern and classic

It feels like someone gave File Explorer a much-needed upgrade

The best thing about the Files app, apart from it being free, is its design. It tries and successfully gels with the design language Microsoft adopted for Windows 11. But the Files app shines and takes customization to the next level.

While the default File Explorer gives you the option to switch between light and dark modes, the Files app gives you the control to choose whichever color you want to apply.

I personally prefer the Acrylic theme, which adds a hint of frosted glass effect, letting my desktop wallpaper peek through vaguely. On top of this, you also have the option to change the background of the folders.

Additionally, you can also change the date format. This is very small but an effective way to know when the folder was created or the file was moved. The application shows you a real-time timer on how much time has passed since modification to a file or a folder.

Multitasking has never been easier

File tags, dual panes, and separate tabs are a total game changer

With the default Windows File Explorer, you have to open multiple instances of the explorer if you wish to move files from one another. That is no longer the case with the Files app. The feature called Dual Pane is a game changer.

You can have one window open showing you the images from your camera’s SD card and keep another window open side-by-side showing you the new folder where you want to move the images. You can easily drag-and-drop files from one window to another, more effective especially when dealing with hundreds of files.

There is also another quite useful feature which Mac users will resonate with, called file tags. I am working as a freelancer, which involves managing invoices from different clients. I do have separate folders for each of them, but the invoices are scattered across several folders. Searching for invoices shows results from 2018, which is inconvenient.

Thanks to files, I can create a new tag called Untag and assign a red color to it. Then all I need to do is select the unpaid invoice, right-click on it and tag it as Unpaid. All of my unpaid invoices will be easily accessible under the Unpaid tag.

Also, there is a feature called tabs, which is similar to opening new tabs in a browser. You can easily manage multiple folders within a single window using tabs. You can switch between tabs using the keyboard shortcut and improve efficiency.

Integrate with PowerToys to unlock more features

If you use PowerToys, then the Files app is a beast

I use PowerToys, a handy tool that lets you perform several important tasks, such as resizing images, extracting text from images, customizing window layouts, grabbing screen colors, and much more. There is also a useful feature, again available on macOS, which is called Peek.

Peek lets you preview files without opening them. So, if you want to move a PDF or an image, you can simply highlight the file and tap the spacebar on your keyboard to show you a high-quality preview of the file.

Files also brings one more Mac feature for Windows users called Column View. This feature comes in handy when you want to access a file buried inside multiple folders. In the default Windows File Explorer, it is a nightmare because if you want to go back to a specific folder; you have to hit the back button or get lost in the hierarchy.

In the Files app, every time you open a new folder, it opens in a new column to the right. You can clearly see where you have come from and can go back easily, as you have a visual map of your file path. If you want to go back three steps, you don’t have to press the back button three times; you only need to click on the folder in the column to reach there.

It’s time Files became the default file manager

Files come with all the necessary features you would wish to have with the default Windows File Explorer. However, Files isn’t perfect. During my long-term usage, I’ve experienced occasional hiccups like the app taking a bit longer to open folders, and sometimes the function doesn’t work.

Overall, Files app is what the default Windows File Explorer should be. Until then, you have the Files app at your disposal.