- Microsoft updates File Explorer with new features.
- These features include a new Recommended section on the Home page to suggest files.
- File Explorer also introduces a new context menu with access to key shortcuts.
Microsoft has also released an upgraded version of File Explorer, which includes some new enhancements to the Home page and context menu, as part of previewbuild 23403 for Windows 11.
A new Recommended section that makes recommendations for pertinent files has been added to the Home page. However, since the current part of the page still displays the files you use most frequently, the recommendations are not based on your current activity.
Rather, Windows 11 users who are logged in with an Azure Active Directory (AAD) account can utilize the capability. This means that the suggested files will be cloud files linked to that account, either shared or owned by the user.
To speed up command execution, File Explorer is also adding access key shortcuts to the XAML context menu. By choosing the file and clicking the actual Menu key on the keyboard, you can open the shortcuts view.
The enhancements were made shortly after the business started testing a new version of File Explorer with the new WinUI 3 from the Windows App SDK (WASDK) and the XAML programming language.
With a few more modifications, including the new Gallery area that offers a fresh perspective akin to the Photos app and the new Recommended part on the Home page, the overall look of the file manager is still the same even though it is now built on a different programming and design language. (The context menu update is now limited to the app’s legacy version.)
According to a prior source, Microsoft is also reportedly developing other File Explorer enhancements, such as the Shared Status, Conversations, Insights, and Activities pages. These are reportedly capabilities that will be integrated with Microsoft 365 products.
According to reports, the company also intends to implement contemporary design changes to make File Explorer more touch-friendly, including larger hitboxes and a streamlined header and sidebar layout.