How best to use Windows File Explorer

explorer

If you do not have a third party application to manage your files then windows file explorer is there to fill this in for you, it is also one of the most frequently used tools by you. 

Whether you are looking for a particular file or folder, whether you want to copy or delete items from your PC, you are going to need the file explorer. 

The application has quite a few features that make it easier to use, but since they're not immediately apparent, many people don't know about them. 

Here are some of the best tips and tricks for using the windows File Explorer.

Clear history

Clear the Recent Files History

The File Explorer might compromise your privacy in its quest to effective especially if there are other people using your PC. 

The Quick Access category holds a record of the folders that you launch often as well as of your recently opened files.

If that's an inconvenience, all you have to do is to go to View → Options, then in the General tab, click the Clear button from the Privacy category. 

Additionally, the same Privacy section also allows you to prevent Explorer from displaying the recently opened files or the frequently used.

Quick Access

Quick access

If you're someone who uses the Quick Access list, you should be happy to know that it's quite easy to add any entry that you want to that category. 

All you have to do is to navigate to the desired file or folder, then drag it from the right pane and drop it into the Quick Access category from the left-side pane (right over the Quick Access name). 

You can also use the right-click menu as shown in the image, but it may not work on all folders.

Change default location

Change default location

The File Explorer is set to start in the Quick Access list by default, which will display the most used folders and your recently opened files, but everyone may not like this at all. 

Since many people make shortcuts to the folders they often visit, they would prefer to start by seeing their disks' partitions.

The good news is that you can change the start location quite easily: click on the View button from the file menu, then go to Options. In the window that opens up, click the "Open File Explorer to" button and select This PC instead of Quick Access.

Directory Change

Directly rotate images

So many would simply sweep past this without noticing that whenever you navigate into a folder that contains images, there's a button named Pictures Tools that appears at the very top of the File Explorer. 

If you click on it, you will open a sub-menu, which will give you some useful photo-related options such as Rotate left, Rotate right, Slideshow and Set as background. Using these functions directly from Explorer is a lot quicker than launching an additional app.

Useful keyboard shortcuts

Lastly, here's a list containing a few keyboard shortcuts that can help you save a lot of time:

Ctrl + N - opens a new file explorer window, for easier dragging and dropping.

Ctrl + Shift + N - creates a new folder.

Alt + Up Arrow - goes up one level.

Alt + Left / Right - goes back / forward.

Alt + P - displays or hides the preview pane

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