Microsoft is working on a new interface for Windows File Explorer. The tool should benefit from a more modern design, but above all from better integration of OneDrive and Microsoft 365.
Windows File Explorer as you know it today is probably living its last hours. In a recent build of Windows 11 released to members of the Insider program, the Redmond firm had integrated several new features in File Explorer, without however these being officially activated. We now know a little more thanks to our colleagues at Windows Central who were able to obtain what looks like an internal model of the future version of Windows File Explorer.
A new design and better Cloud integration
For the new version of its file manager, Microsoft has not done things by halves. The tool strip currently located at the very top of the window should thus migrate to the top of the main Explorer panel. Instead, Microsoft would only put the navigation buttons (back, forward, reload, home), active directory path, and search box there.
But the biggest change is in the main panel. The current Home quick access that allowed to quickly open native or pinned directories could be replaced by recommended files, with, for each of them, a preview thumbnail. Below, Microsoft would plan to display pinned files, as well as recent files. This new version of File Explorer, including better integration of files stored on OneDrive or documents created with Microsoft 365. This would result in the display of each user’s interactions on the files. For example, it should be possible to see recent comments that have been posted by other collaborators on shared files or as email attachments.
Better preview of images and tags to categorize your files
The source of Windows Central, which apparently works at Microsoft, also seems to indicate that the changes made to File Explorer should significantly improve navigation from a touch screen. It would also have confirmed the arrival of a long-awaited new feature: the ability to classify files using tags and colors. A system similar to what Apple offers with its Finder on macOS. The new version of File Explorer would also be able to display a preview of images by simply hovering over the file with the mouse. If for the time being no official deployment date is known, Microsoft could launch its new File Explorer before the end of 2023 in a future Windows update.
Windows Central
