How to Add Another Column in Windows File Explorer

To add another column in File Explorer, switch the folder to Details view, right-click any column heading, such as Name or Date modified, and click the column you want, like Size or Date created. Choose More to see every available column.

These steps cover Windows 11 and also work in Windows 10 (support ended October 14, 2025), where some menus sit on the ribbon. Microsoft’s File Explorer in Windows article covers the View and See more menus used below.

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How to Add a Column in File Explorer

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, then go to the folder.
Select View on the toolbar and choose Details, or press Ctrl + Shift + 6. Columns only appear in Details view.
Right-click any column heading, such as Name, Date modified, or Type.
Click a column name to check it.

File Explorer column heading right-click menu listing Name, Date modified, Type, Size and More — Right-click any column heading and click a column name to add it.

The new column appears right away for every file in the folder. Click a checked column in the same menu to remove it.

Find a column that isn’t in the menu

Right-click a column heading and choose More at the bottom of the menu.
In the Choose Details window, check every column you want and uncheck the ones you don’t.
Optionally, select a column and use Move Up or Move Down to change its position.
Select OK.

File Explorer Choose Details window with Date created and Size checked and the Move Up and Move Down buttons — Choose More to check any column and change its order.

The list changes with the folder type. A Pictures folder offers columns like Date taken and Dimensions.

Columns work on search results too, which helps when you search for words within files on Windows 11 and want to sort the matches.

Windows 10 ribbon method

In Windows 10, open the View tab, select Details in the Layout group, then select Add columns and pick a column. Choose Choose columns to open the full Choose Details list.

How to Rearrange, Resize, and Sort Columns

Move a column: drag its heading left or right.
Resize a column: drag the edge of its heading, or right-click a heading and choose Size all columns to fit.
Sort by a column: click its heading. Click again to reverse the order.

How to Use the Same Columns in Other Folders

Columns are saved per folder. Apply to Folders copies a layout to every folder of the same type (General items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos), not only the current folder’s subfolders.

Set up the columns you want in one folder.
Select See more (the three dots) on the toolbar, then Options. In Windows 10, use View > Options.
In Folder Options, open the View tab.
Select Apply to Folders, then confirm with Yes.

Card showing how to apply File Explorer column settings to all folders of the same type — Illustration: how to apply your column layout to similar folders.

Reopen File Explorer and check another folder of the same type to confirm it worked.

Make a folder use a different type

If a folder doesn’t pick up your layout, Windows may treat it as a different type. Right-click the folder, choose Properties, open the Customize tab, and pick a type under Optimize this folder for. Check Also apply this template to all subfolders if needed, then select OK. For a consistent look, repeat Apply to Folders in one folder of each type.

How to Undo Your Column Changes

To return every folder to the default columns, open Folder Options > View, select Reset Folders, then Yes. This resets all folder view settings, not just columns.

Troubleshooting

No column headings: the folder is in another view, such as Large icons. Switch to View > Details.
The column you want is missing from More: available details depend on the folder’s type. Change the type as described above.
A column is blank for some files: the files don’t store that detail, such as Date taken for a text file. For photos and Office documents, you can add details like Title or Authors on the Details tab of Properties.
Columns reset in a new folder: that’s the per-folder behavior. Use Apply to Folders for each folder type.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a file size column?

Right-click a column heading in Details view and check Size. It shows file sizes only; for a folder’s total, right-click it and choose Properties.

How do I remove a column?

Right-click any column heading and click the checked column to uncheck it. You can’t remove the Name column.

Can I create a custom column?

No. File Explorer only offers the details listed in Choose Details.

More Windows Guides

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

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