How to Use File Explorer in Windows 11

To open File Explorer in Windows 11, press Windows key + E or select the folder icon on the taskbar. Use the left pane to jump between Home, your main folders, and your drives, and the toolbar at the top to create, cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete files.

The Parts of File Explorer

• Address bar: shows where you are. Select a folder name in it to jump back up a level, or type a path like C:\.
• Search box: at the top right. It searches the folder you’re in and everything inside it.
• Toolbar: buttons for New, Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Share, and Delete, plus Sort and View menus. The three-dot See more button holds extra options.
• Left pane: Home, Gallery, pinned folders, OneDrive, This PC, drives, and Network.
• Tabs: like a web browser, you can keep several folders open in one window.

Microsoft has an overview of these parts in its File Explorer help.

Everyday Tasks

Create a new folder

1. Go to the location you want.
2. Select New in the toolbar, then Folder. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + N.
3. Type a name and press Enter.

Copy or move files

1. Select the files. Hold Ctrl to select several, or Ctrl + A to select everything.
2. Press Ctrl + C to copy or Ctrl + X to cut.
3. Open the destination folder and press Ctrl + V.

Rename a file

1. Select the file.
2. Press F2.
3. Type the new name and press Enter.

Delete a file

Select it and press Delete. It goes to the Recycle Bin, where you can restore it later. If you delete something by mistake, see how to find deleted files on Windows 11.

Use tabs

Press Ctrl + T to open a new tab and Ctrl + W to close the current one. To open a folder in a new tab, right-click it and select Open in new tab.

Zip and Unzip Files

1. To zip, right-click the files or folder and select Compress to > ZIP File (or Show more options > Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder).
2. To unzip, right-click the archive and select Extract All, then follow the prompts.
3. To grab just one file, open the archive and drag that file out.

Microsoft says Windows 11 version 24H2 supports ZIP, RAR, 7z, and TAR archives, but not password-protected ones. See Zip and unzip files.

Change How Files Look

• Select View to switch between icons, List, Details, and more. Details shows dates and sizes.
• Select View > Show > File name extensions to see extensions like .docx or .jpg.
• Select View > Show > Hidden items to see hidden files and folders, such as the AppData folder.
• Select View > Details pane or Preview pane for more information about the selected file.
• Select Sort to order files by name, date, type, or size.

For a folder that stays hidden, our guide to unhiding folders in Windows 11 explains the difference between showing Hidden items and removing a personal folder’s Hidden attribute.

Make File Explorer Open to This PC

1. Select See more (the three dots) on the toolbar, then Options.
2. On the General tab, set Open File Explorer to to This PC.
3. Select OK.

This PC shows your drives right away. See how to find the C drive on Windows 11 for more.

Useful Shortcuts

• Windows key + E: open File Explorer.
• Alt + Up arrow: go up one folder.
• Alt + Left arrow: go back.
• Ctrl + F or Ctrl + E: jump to the search box.
• Alt + Enter: open Properties for the selected file.

If File Explorer Is Slow or Not Responding

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
3. If it keeps happening, open See more > Options and select Clear next to Clear File Explorer history. Our guide on how to clear recent files in Windows 11 covers what that button removes.
4. Install waiting updates in Settings > Windows Update.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for files in Windows 11?

Open the folder or drive you want to search, such as This PC to search everything, then type in the search box at the top right. To search from anywhere, press the Windows key and start typing. For photos specifically, see how to find all photos on your computer.

How do I pin folders?

Right-click a folder and select Pin to Quick access. See how to use Quick access in Windows 11.

Where did the old context menu go?

Windows 11 shows a shorter right-click menu. Select Show more options at the bottom, or press Shift + F10, to see the full menu.

How do I show more details about my files?

Switch to View > Details, then right-click a column heading to add columns like Size or Date created. See how to add another column in File Explorer.