Microsoft needs to fix Windows 11 File Explorer tabs for them to be useful

I’m a big fan of Windows 11. The initial release was a much needed breath of fresh air after Windows 10 got so out of date, and updates like Windows 11 version 22H2 brought big changes that made it even better. One of my favorite features in Windows 11 build 22H2 was the tabbed file explorer, which was enabled later, in October, and was something many Windows users had been waiting for a long time.


However, after nearly four months of making it available, I’ve realized I rarely use File Explorer tabs. This isn’t because the feature isn’t useful — it certainly is — but the implementation isn’t on par with other tab-based apps, which prevents it from being a more attractive feature. Tabs notwithstanding, File Explorer is still designed to open individual new windows in most cases, so it’s easy to forget tabs even exist. While there are plenty of implementations that work, Microsoft needs to do more work to make it a legitimately useful feature.


What does tabbed file explorer get right

I will admit that part of the problem is me. I could probably have better use of the File Explorer tabs, even with the current implementation. In some ways, it’s nice that Microsoft didn’t just add tabs at the top of the File Explorer window and call it a day. You can use keyboard shortcuts to open or close tabs just like in a browser, for example.

Most importantly, if you’re using a “proper” mouse (instead of a touchpad on my fancy laptop), you can middle-click on a folder to instantly open it in a new tab and middle-click on a tab in the tab bar to close it. I do this all the time on my web browser, and I honestly expected Microsoft to overlook these features, but that wasn’t the case. Although it is worth noting that while middle clicking opens a new tab, browsers also allow you to open links in a new tab by holding down control and left click. In File Explorer, this opens a new window instead. On the bright side, File Explorer lets you drag and drop files between tabs as well.

I don’t frequently use these capabilities in File Explorer, though, and I think it’s easy to forget that tabs are a thing now. Microsoft isn’t doing enough to highlight the benefits of this feature.

Tabs should be used by default

Here’s the thing about tabs in a web browser: They’re not just… capacity To open an important new tab. Browsers are designed to keep you in the same window most of the time. If you click on a link within an app or game, that link won’t open a new window unless it’s not already there. Otherwise, links open in a new tab within the current window, making it easier for you to keep track of everything you open.

Screenshot of a web browser displaying a page, with another app that has a link to that page next to it

File Explorer isn’t like that, and I can understand why. Unlike a browser, you don’t share links to local folders that you can click on. However, there are still many situations where this behavior makes sense.

One example I run all the time is file downloads. I use Vivaldi browser, and when I finish downloading a file, Vivaldi sends a notification to let me know. Clicking this notification will open the folder’s location on your computer and, due to the current behavior, will open a new file explorer window each time. You can apply this to any browser that allows you to open the Downloads folder.

But there are cases of this even in Windows itself. If I don’t rely on Vivaldi’s notifications, I use the recommended section of the start menu, and generally right-click on a file and choose Open a file location. You can guess what’s going on – another file explorer window opens. I always have multiple instances of File Explorer running, though I prefer using tabs.

Screenshot of the Windows 11 Start Menu with context menu showing File

I’m sure someone out there probably prefers the current behavior, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not how other tabbed apps work. There’s a reason these apps work the way they do, and Microsoft needs to follow suit to make File Explorer really good. I would go so far as to say that the File Explorer link in the Start menu, which I always enable on my computer, should at least allow you to open a new tab by default.

It’s not just about getting the feature – experiences should be designed around it, and users should be shown the benefits. We’ve been used to decades-old File Explorer behavior, so Microsoft has to give users a little nudge to use the tabbed interface. Hopefully, this is something the company will address sooner rather than later.

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