Windows 10 Tip: Manage Files and Folders with File Explorer

A critical part of managing files and folders in Windows is by using a File System. Here’s a look at managing your data with File Explorer in Windows 10.

When using your Windows 10 system to create information, we accumulate many files that store on our hard disk over time. A critical part of how Windows 10 (and Windows in general) organizes this is using a File System that manages how files are stored and accessed on your computer. When we interact with the records that we create on our computers, such as documents, audio files, pictures, and videos, the part you and I see is the File Manager.

Formerly File Manager

In the case of Windows, it’s File Explorer. Over the years, this essential part of the Windows experience has evolved from its roots as File Manager in early releases, then Windows Explorer, and now called File Explorer, first introduced in Windows 8.

Since many of you are coming from Windows 7 and skipped Windows 8.x altogether, we thought you’d like to take a look at using File Explorer in Windows 10.

Using File Explorer in Windows 10

To see into your computer’s storage vault, click the File Explorer icon located on your Taskbar or click Start > File Explorer.

When you launch File Explorer in Windows 10, you get the Quick access window. Formally called Favorites in previous versions of Windows, here you will see your most frequently accessed folders and files you created.

You can use File Explorer for a variety of tasks. In addition to the management and organization of files and folders, it’s also used to view and manage the resources of your computer, such as internal storage, attached storage, and optical drives.

What Everything Means on File Explorer

This PC

If you would rather see your computer environment now called This PC, click it in the left pane, or you can change it to the default from the Folder Options dialogue. To do so, select the View tab on the Ribbon and click Options under Show/Hide group.

Click in the Open File Explorer to list box, choose This PC, and then click Apply and OK.

If you don’t like to see your most frequently accessed folders and recently accessed files, you can adjust those settings from the same dialog. Under Privacy, uncheck the following:

• Show recently used files in Quick access
• Show frequently used folders in Quick access

Or you can choose to erase all traces by clicking the Clear button.

User Folder

In Windows 7 and earlier versions, you had a User folder directory used to store and organize your files in folders by content, such as Documents, Audio Files, Pictures, Videos, and other types of data. Some of these folders will still be available from This PC. Other folders that might be part of your User Folder created by third-party applications are accessible from within your user directory from the Bread Crumb menu.

To do that, click the arrow on the address bar (see below) and click your user folder represented by your account name. Or, press Windows key + R, then type: %userprofile% and hit Enter.

Change how Files Display in Windows 10 File Explorer

You can change how your files look by using the View tab. When you activate this tab, you will see various groups for changing the window’s layout, files, current view, or hide certain things you see onscreen. Within the Layout group, click one of the available options to change how your files display onscreen. You can also preview the layout before confirming by hovering over one of the available options.

File Explorer provides different ways to view your files

Go Back to a Previous Folder

If you would like to navigate to a previous folder, you can do this a couple of ways efficiently using either the Recent Locations button or the Bread Crumb menu. When you click the Recent Locations menu, you can go back to a previously working directory quickly without going through multiple directories along the way.

The Bread Crumb menu introduced in Windows Vista provides similar capabilities; for instance, you can easily navigate to a folder with a folder path. So, if there are subfolders within a folder, you can quickly jump to any folder within that path.

Tip: You can also use the Backspace key to go back one step too.

Organizing Files and Folders

If you have many files on your Windows 10 system computer, you’ll want to organize them. So if you need to see recent files created or older files, or you need to archive certain files elsewhere, you can easily do so. The View tab provides options for sorting how files are displayed. Here, I have chosen to sort my files by type. When I select this view, I can see all my Microsoft Word documents and Excel workbooks.

Copy, Pasting a File or Folder

One of the most common operations for users is copying, which creates a replica of an original file. To copy a file, select the file you want to copy and click Copy under the Home tab.

You can just as easily copy or move a file without leaving your current location. Under the Home tab within the Organize group, click the ‘Copy to’ or ‘Move to’ button, choose the location if it’s listed, or click the Choose Location button and select the location.

Customizing Windows 10 File Explorer

If there are folders you commonly access, you can have them pinned to the Quick Access pane. Right-click the folder you want to be pinned and select Pin to Quick Access or select the folder and then Pin to Quick access under the Home tab.

If you don’t always want to see the Ribbon in Windows 10, you can minimize it by clicking the Minimize button or press Ctrl + F1 on your keyboard.

As you now know, File Explorer in Windows 10 contains a wealth of tools you can use to manage your files! The ribbon, which will be new to many, offers numerous organizational tools that are quickly accessible. All of this makes it easier to discover and find your information.

50 Comments

Hi Andre
Since updating to Windows 10 I find that when I have two versions of File Explorer open and want to have them side by side the Taskbar option “Show Windows Side by Side” does not work correctly.
The two versions become Stacked not Side by side.
Eg.
Press Win Key+E twice (to open two versions of File Explorer)
Right Click in the Task Bar and select Show Windows Side by Side. This is an annoying bug and Microsoft should be notified by it but How do you notify them?

I think your problem is that you’re opening two SESSIONS of File Explorer when what you want is two WINDOWS. Instead of clicking Windows E a second time…just type CTRL N (new window) once your first window is open. THEN you can use the old side-by-each command.
(The way you’ve BEEN doing it, each “session” only HAS one window open…..so when you say “Show windows side by side”…….it thinks you’re on drugs! :-)

How can I duplicate the folder structure [only partial in most cases, e.g. the structure for the lowest level or two on part of a drive] in Windows 10 while not copying all the files over? Thanks.

Bob Matthews… Open a command prompt and use the xcopy command with the /T & /E switches. Type “xcopy /?” for a list of switches and the help file. /T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
empty directories and subdirectories.

Not sure about the font-size method……but Windows Key/+= key will magnify up to 800% (Go back down to 100 using Win/- keys.(of course!)

How can one add a back arrow button to where the pin to quick access button is located now? I really miss the old layout, and the small arrows that has replaced it just isn’t the same, at all..

I’m trying to burn word documents to a CD. I have file folders with sub folders under each folder. These are recipes that I have organized into different categories, like chicken, pork, etc. When I burn them to a CD they appear in alphabetical order, but not in their sub folder categories. How do I burn the CD keeping the categories separate? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I can’t even get two copies of file explorer open. I don’t know how to organize my files and folders without doing this. I need to see what I am doing, my short term memory is apparently not long enough to retain what I am dragging and where I want to drag it to to, and then to make it worse scrolling and dragging can make it all squirrel out.

Kristin I suppose by now you’ve worked it out. If not, here’s my way… I have File Explorer on the taskbar (Start>File Explorer – right mouse click – Add to Taskbar). I click to open it and then, if I want another copy, I click again on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar BUT WHILE HOLDING SHIFT – a separate FE windows open, and you can drag one hard against the side of your monitor using your left mouse button on the title bar. When you then let go of the mouse button – making sure you see a half screen outline on your monitor – the first FE window will snap to fill half screen size. Then you can click on the other FE window to make it snap to the other half of the screen. Then you can drag files between different folders in your computer or between different computers on your network. Hope it helps! :)

Ok here is my delima when pulling files over to move them. I highlite the file and pull them over to the same window left hand column, and before i can let go of them, it has squirly opened up the subdirectories or moved on me, so they go into the wrong directory. Very very frustrating. Isn’t there a button or check mark where i can make it NOT EXPAND the directories. If not, why now ;)? Thank you for answering that. Oh one more delima with windows 10. I can’t even see a button or place where it says PRINT in my Notepad Next application. What do i have to do to get it to appear? There is a print button on all the other applications.

Jerry, did you ever learn how to move something from one file explorer window to the other, without the darn thing suddenly going into the wrong directory? Happens to me a lot, also.

You, Kristin, have just made my day !
To explain, I must detail that I’ve a huge amount of schooling, medical degrees,
mechanical training, and more. I can tear anything apart, and rebuild it. I’ve also applied for a few patents. (blah, blah, blah)
HOWEVER, in the last few years of being habitually
frustrated with computers, I’ve upgraded to (2) twenty four inch monitors.
This solved a fraction of my struggles, yet all the “tutorials” and “advice” and explanations from “EXPERTS” continually left me with the desire to smash everything and revert to books, pen and paper, etc.
“Not” having the ability to “SEE WHAT WE’RE DOING” seems to be a “very common” roadblock in the world of computers.
It could also be in “your” situation, as is mine, that certain individuals are more “kinesthetic” and “visual” than others, in terms of “how they retain information”.
Having grown up with 3 DIMENSIONAL, auditory, and visual learning, it took me a long
time to realize that “IT’S NOT ME”.
The world of learning computers, let alone programs, files, folders, and the myriad of differing combinations is VERY UNNATURAL to my own personal way of learning.
Having learned this, I’ve solved my anger/frustration with computers and built myself
a 6-monitor system, allowing me to have a “huge” desktop where I CAN SEE EVERYTHING and the “inter-relationships”……AS I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER, RETAIN, and Learn !

Great post Andre, thanks
Is there a way to customise File Manager so that I don’t see all stuff I don’t need in the Navigation Pane – such as Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos?
Thanks

i accidentally clicked something that i didn’t read while i was deleting an app. (i think it was “do this to others”).. now, i could copy, move or delete any file, apps and all while i have it open.. how do i undo this? how do i return it to its default setting?

Hi somehow windows 10 file explorer has taken my music album folders and made individual folders for each artist. So now i have many more folders to look through for my music and some folders only have 1 somg in them… i have tried changing the view but i cannot get them to merge back into album folders. Is there a way to do this?

on 8, I could like all the favorites and quickly look at them by xing out at the top. Now I have to click each one in the folder to look at. This takes way too much time. How do I get them all to open in a favorites forlder like 8. I hope this isn’t the new way, so aggrevating. Thanks

I was trying to save a file to local drive C: but it wont allow me to. How to save a file in desired directory?

Is there anything about how to keep Microsoft from duplicating your files? When Windows 7 came out-was extremely confusing because on one hand you have similar names-like photos for instance-you will find a few different locations for “Photos” but are not the same location. Supposedly, these are all the same files arranged in a different order-there is only one file or on the picture and it all goes back to the one copy of that file. With Windows 10 in file explorer-next thing I know is my folders start multiplying without me making it happen. If I want to clean and organize-it is giving me multiple copies of the same file. So instead of having one file accessed from multiple locations-this becomes not one file but multiple copies of the same files you know must manage. Instead of having one file you have five or six files you have to consolidate and eventually deletes-you are not working with one file access from multiple locations but five different files found in five different locations. Is there a way to manage files and folders that does not make multiple copies of the same file(so you are only managing one file but not five different files) How can I manage my files and folders so I can keep them in one place, location with out seeing the same files copied and growing into a huge list of files you have to manage? In other words, having a clean and concise work area that bis easy to manage? How do I stop Microsoft from making copies of my files putting them all over the place in my file/folder manager?

Some online software’s are great in case of long path errors like Long Path Tool, all problems solution in one go.

How do you prevent files and folders from being deleted? Been noticing from time to time that a folder I could access is no longer there. I go to the Recycle Bin and thankfully-find it and restore it. How can I stop this action from happening? I am the only one using my laptop so the reality-it should be myself determining what gets deleted and what does not. Is there some kind of registry, journal entries, or whatever I need to look at to pinpoint when this happens and who caused it(whatever feature on my computer.) In a similar action, when working with a lot of files-pictures-when moving them from place to place(like cut and paste), I keep seeing these photos and files being duplicated in file management. I suspect when this happens, the cause being cut and pasted files-that it leaves a copy you did not intend to leave at the current address. For whatever reason-when Windows 7 came out-had a long time to wrap my head around the ideal that there is one file but can be accessed from multiple locations-one file though. I somewhat suspect there has been a change up by Microsoft which would be very disingenuous if that is what is happening.

Yes maybe MS can use another check box if we want to be reminded of a deletion or not be reminded. I”m used to the fact that you can hit the delete button, and it’s done, no asking if you’re sure. But you can also accidentally hit that button and lost files. Maybe make that optional to each individual person.

Hey, David,
Maybe the clue is in your phrase “Cut and paste”. Perhaps you are “Copy and pasting”, not cutting? Also, if you ever move files by “dragging and dropping” you must be sure to hold down the shift key while doing this; otherwise, you are “dragging and COPYING”, i.e. making another copy of the file in the new location. BUT, the old one ALSO stays where it was, so you now have TWO copies. Try it on a test file. Good luck!

Everything you need to manage files and folders except for the files and folders themselves. I want to get rid of excess and copied files. Apparently when you try to open another copy of a folder already opened so you can compare-apparently you can only open one version of a folder. When you try to open a second copy-it takes you right to the first copy you have opened already. The more I get into Windows 10, the more I begin to realise Microsoft is not about making basic features Windows miight have had in the past are not a part of the new and improved edition of Windows. As Microsoft adds innovative features-you do it at the price of losing basic functionality you always had available to you-you have to reinmvent the wheel because Microsoft decided you do not need that wheel

David did you get any help with your two inquires here?
I have these same problems and my Photo folders and files are beyond management.
I really need help with these problems too.

Also in talking about files and losing or gaining files. Why after you drag files to the same drive, do they still appear to be in the directory you pulled them from? Then you click on them and explorer says they are not there. Why don’t they just delete the listing like they used to in Vista. I always have to leave that directory and then come back to it for it to show the correct listing.

Not really but the last few days I figured out why I began seeing more and more files and folders multiplied. The reason is if you select a number of files to move or delete. Not sure if this matters but I do use the little box to show if selected or not. When I select some files or folders to be deleted-notice they do not all delete or they all do not cut so am aware of it and now look to see if files or folders were cut or deleted because you cannot trust Windows 10 to delete or cut files and folders. What I am doing now is trying to organize file explorer. I get these folders and files and there is a bit of clutter. Try to consolidate. Problem is when I select something here, three other locations pop up with all its folders and this is where confusion comes in. I made a folder named, “Iraq” for pictures of the Iraq war. Put the files in there and have not looked at it fora week or two. I go in to the explorer and could not find it. So I decide to do a search and here comes this folder entitled I”Iraq” which does not have pictures but PDF Books I have. But in everything, I think have a total of five or six little folder icons that are the same-like for instance “pictures ” is found this way in files Explorer. I get really confused on how they decided to make things because with these various repeats of files and opening one folder that will open another five which when done-maybe one of those five will prompt you and go open different folders until I get one big convoluted mess. I do not even know why they make files explorer to be in this one pane of in formation that pops up-I honestly thought I should be able to open my files or folders in multiple places on my computer and also decided to put them together in one application-files explorer. It all gets very frustrating. It took some time to get here so I apologize in not responding-am sure nI have something in my email but have been ignoring it the last few weeks.

Hi, I wanted to search for a file in a folder and organised by date. We then reset settings to get the folders back to the way they were previously and its now organised under ‘a long time ago’ yesterday’ etc… I cant work out how to change it back?? I cant find anything. Can you help?

The new file explorer is a nightmare. I tried adding a folder to my desktop for quick access and for some idiotic reason it later changed the name of my folder for documents. Plus it seems to show the file architecture duplicated one above the other. How do I eliminate this “double vision” they’ve created? How do I delete the “documents” folder permanently so it will leave my created folders alone and not keep wanting to merge crap. Or, can I just uninstall file explorer all together and use a better standalone file manager that actually works? Mac and Linux are looking better all the time.

SRC: I am having the same frustration. All my documents are buried in an obscure location under One Drive. I never wanted them placed there. The directory structure of Windows 10 is very confusing.

I buy quite a not of technology. I find mc much more intuitive then file explorer. I recommend mc as a replacement. Don’t bother with junk.

I’m having problems when searching when I can’t remember where I stored a file(s) it appears to only search down current folder and next one down, maybe I’ll have to look for a replacement too.

If you want a more “broad-based” search…click on “This PC” in the left column……then type the name you’re looking for in the top-right box that appears “Search This PC”. Your problem is probably that you are searching in “Quick Access”.