How Windows 11 changes File Explorer — for better or for worse

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ISSUE 18.43 • 2021-11-08 WINDOWS 11 By Lance Whitney File Explorer in Windows 11 works mostly the same as in Windows 10, but there are visual and layo
[See the full post at: How Windows 11 changes File Explorer — for better or for worse]

7 users thanked author for this post.

oldfry, lmacri, AlexEiffel, dgc-art, rc primak, George S. Augustas, abbodi86

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Definitely worse

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And what about functionality? Has Windows 11’s Explorer finally tackled the 255-character  file / folder name limitation?

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File Explorer in Windows 11 have no folder thumbnails, so users can’t know what’s inside the folders.

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File Explorer is worse now than ever before.

I’ll  stay away from Windows 11, as long as I can..

I liked Windows 7 for it’s layout and my ability to change colors and others on the screen.

I  now use Openshot and Fences to give me a Windows 7 feel.

Since 2007, I have been using Directory Opus instead of File Explorer.

I started looking for a replacement  because File Explorer changes the file dates when the file is moved after it is created/updated.

Directory Opus leaves the date as it was created. Also get 2 layouts instead of 1.  Start when I click a blank area on a screen.  Pages of  Preferences and the ability to save/restore/email preferences.  I have my D_Opus screens the way the way I want them.  AND the layout has been similar since 2007, and probably before.

Microsoft could spend money for doing what people want, instead of changing the front end.

Thank you, Lance Whitney.

John.Addis at Yahoo.com

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AlexEiffel

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Wow, that is not a minor thing, changing the file date when moving it. This is really bad. Thank you.

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As a long time Microsoft Windows user I have been dreading the release of Windows 11. In fact I made the decision to try Linux as I knew my laptop was unlikely work with the new release. Interesting to see that Win 11 file explorer is going to also allow coloured folder assignment like Linux. Seems several new Win 11 features will adopt what Linux has had for years.
I now have both operating systems running, bootable options, which allows me to learn Linux whilst still having access to Win11. It’s an interesting time and I wonder what people are going to do when their machines will not update to Win11.

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People using PC for work, will have to figure out how things are in Windows 11 and its more time consuming (even few click more per day makes the difference). Its definatelly not productive, its just aesthetic. Its not suitable for companies, its for “home toys”.

Look at this picture, and see how inconsistent is the UI. Its a hodgepodge of colors. Windows Aero was the most beautiful of all Windows. They wont trick me with personal folders copied from Linux 😉

Also, how those small icons for renaming/moving files and folder fits into strategy, that focuses touch devices? Someone forgot about that?
Also, those stupid “disapearing” tiny scroll bars makes me crazy. Totally touch unfriendly.

Dell Latitude E6530, Intel Core i5 @ 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, W10 20H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

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2 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, dgc-art

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I forgot to thank mr. @lancewhit for detailed description.

Dell Latitude E6530, Intel Core i5 @ 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, W10 20H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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I learned from your article that Alt+Enter opens the File Properties box. I didn’t know that. That is very helpful to know. It works in Windows 7, too.

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Flouting Microsoft’s rules, man gets Windows 11 to work on a 15-year-old PC

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/windows-11-runs-on-a-15-year-old-pc/

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I wouldn’t care how long the File Explorer context menu is if the user could arrange the list as we wish. Obviously, place your most-used up top and leave the seldom used near the bottom. This has been a wish I’ve had for the past 20+ years. My most used functions such as delete, rename, cut, copy are always buried way down near the bottom.

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Hi Lance, thanks for your run-down. I installed Win 11 some what by accident, the nagging just wore me down. After I installed it, I realized that the changes to the File Manager did not have the command I use the most, ‘move.’ I kept looking around to see if there was a way to to pull it up as a preference but didn’t find anything. I uninstalled Win 11 and then it reinstalled itself again despite my attempts to get it to stop! Finally, I reset my computer and have had to reinstall some programs, etc. but I am now happy again with Win 10 and am going to be vigilant that it doesn’t happen again though it is always looming as an update. I don’t understand why the ‘move’ command would be eliminated. I don’t really understand all of the command functions, maybe there is another way to accomplish moving. If I just copied files and folders rather than moved them, my hard drive would fill up and I would have confusion about where things are. Is there another way to move files/folders in Win 11 if I find myself there again? Thanks, Adriaan

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Excluding the built-in (default) folders, Cut/Paste effectively moves files and folders.

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Thank you very much! I did always wonder about that command. Now I will be able to live with Windows 11 when the time comes. Adriaan

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WSafinnerman forum wrote:

but I am now happy again with Win 10 and am going to be vigilant that it doesn’t happen again

Block Windows 11 with GPEdit setting or registry entry.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/6000005-registry-keys-and-group-policy-info-to-keep-windows-10-from-going-to-11/

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Hi, thank you for the link. I did try it previously and couldn’t get it to work but I will try again. It’s not logical but I find when it comes to computers, sometimes when you keep trying the same thing, if it supposed to work, it eventually will.

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