Files for Windows: Boost Productivity with Dual Pane Column View and Omnibar

Windows File Explorer still does the basics, but for anyone who spends a lot of time organizing, searching, or moving files, the third‑party Files app replaces friction with speed, polish, and productivity features that Microsoft’s default tool simply hasn’t prioritized — from dual‑pane and column view navigation to tag support, an integrated Omnibar, and options to view folder sizes at a glance.

Background​

For decades Windows File Explorer has been the default file manager for millions of users. It integrates tightly with the OS and OneDrive, but its evolution has been incremental: aesthetics have been refreshed, tabs were finally added, yet power users still miss advanced navigation modes, built‑in tagging, robust multi‑pane workflows, and modern preview tooling. This gap opened an opportunity for third‑party projects to reimagine file management for contemporary workflows.
Files (the open‑source project commonly referred to simply as Files) is one of the most visible outcomes of that gap. Developed and maintained by the Files community, it has matured rapidly through regular releases and community funding via the Microsoft Store and donations. The project positions itself as a modern Windows file manager built around productivity: tabs, multipane layouts, column navigation, rich previews, and deep customization are core to its pitch.

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What the Files app brings to the table​

A modern interface that actually matters​

Files modernizes the user interface beyond the cosmetic refreshes Microsoft has introduced. The UI uses a clean layout, smooth animations, and themeable visuals that align with Windows 11 aesthetics while offering significantly more control.

• Themes and appearance: Light/dark themes, custom accent colors, and even background images for the app let users tune the look to their taste.
• Polished interactions: DPI‑aware icons and fluid transitions are present in newer releases, making the app feel faster and more refined on modern displays.

These UI improvements aren’t just eye candy; they reduce cognitive friction. When folders, previews, and metadata render predictably and quickly, navigating deep hierarchies becomes less mentally taxing.

Dual‑pane and flexible layout options​

One of the most pragmatic upgrades is dual‑pane (and multi‑pane) support. Files lets you split the window horizontally or vertically, resize panes, and work with two locations side‑by‑side inside a single window — a feature many power users have longed for in Explorer. The workflow is ideal for drag‑and‑drop transfers, comparing folders, or moving project assets between drives.

Column (Miller) view for deep hierarchies​

Inspired by macOS Finder’s column view, Files offers column navigation: double‑click a folder and its contents open in a new adjacent column, permitting immediate lateral traversal of deep folder trees. This pattern keeps context visible and reduces the back‑and‑forth navigation that bogs down tree‑based explorers.

Tag support and home widgets​

Files introduces a tagging system that’s far more flexible than relying solely on folder structure. Tags are color‑coded, searchable, and can be shown in sidebar widgets for instant access to grouped items across multiple drives. That makes it easy to maintain project‑oriented views (e.g., “Work”, “Photos”, “Invoice”) without scattering copies across nested folders.

Omnibar and command palette​

Files unifies address and search into an Omnibar (sometimes described as a command palette) where you can type paths, run quick commands, or launch app actions from one place. This reduces context‑switching and speeds up navigation for users who prefer keyboard workflows. The Files project documents and release notes call out this blended search/address experience as a central UX improvement.

Small but practical features that add up​

Beyond headline features, Files includes many quality‑of‑life additions that cumulatively transform day‑to‑day work:

• Status/Notification area: A Status Center shows ongoing background tasks (copies, moves, extractions), so you don’t lose track of long operations.
• Compact overlay: A mini, always‑on‑top window ideal for dragging items while working in another app.
• Folder size in list: Optionally calculate and display folder sizes inline (handy for reclaiming disk space) — note that calculating sizes is CPU/disk‑intensive and will affect performance on large trees.
• Custom keyboard shortcuts: Full remapping lets power users align the app with established muscle memory.

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Why many users switch — and what they gain​

If your workflow frequently involves moving files, maintaining multiple open folders, or managing large media collections, the Files app delivers measurable time savings.

• Dual‑pane and tabs eliminate window juggling and speed up file transfers.
• Column view reduces the mental overhead of deep folder navigation.
• Tags and widgets turn scattered assets into instantly accessible sets.
• The Omnibar speeds up path jumps and command execution without hunting through menus.

Multiple independent reviews and community hands‑ons have highlighted these productivity gains, noting especially how the drag‑and‑drop experience and background task tracking feel more complete than Explorer’s basics.

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Customization and control — a different philosophy​

Files opts for a user‑centric approach: almost everything can be customized.

• You can choose whether folders open in new tabs, start up with previous tabs, or always show dual‑pane.
• Context menu items are tunable; you can hide entries you never use for a cleaner right‑click menu.
• Appearance options include transparency and per‑folder backgrounds for visual cues.

This emphasis on control helps teams standardize folder views or let individuals craft workflows that match their mental model rather than forcing everyone into one default behavior.

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Performance and resource trade‑offs​

Files is not a silver bullet. A few important technical trade‑offs appear repeatedly in testing and community reporting:

• Calculating folder sizes increases CPU and disk activity. If enabled for many directories simultaneously, it can noticeably raise resource use — turn it on selectively.
• Preview and indexing features use background threads to remain responsive; on lower‑end machines this can raise fan activity and power draw. In other words, the app trades more aggressive local I/O and CPU usage for snappier UI responses.
• Some integrations, especially third‑party shell extensions, still ultimately depend on Windows’ own shell. Right‑click latency for those extensions can therefore be tied to the OS rather than the app.

For most modern desktops and laptops the performance trade‑offs are acceptable for the productivity gains. For older or constrained hardware, conservative settings (disable folder size calculation, lower thumbnail quality, turn off animations) will help.

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Security, privacy, and enterprise considerations​

Adopting a third‑party file manager in a business environment raises questions beyond features.

• Telemetry: The Files project uses App Center for crash and usage telemetry by default (this is documented in the project repositories). Administrators should review telemetry settings and the project’s privacy guidance before deploying at scale. Some telemetry can be disabled in settings, but it’s prudent to confirm which data are sent.
• Integration and policy: Files is not a Microsoft product; organizations relying on strict application whitelisting, code signing policies, or central software distribution should test compatibility in staging environments. Shell integrations (third‑party context menu entries, deep OneDrive hooks) may behave differently than in File Explorer and should be validated against corporate workflows.
• Support and updates: Files has an active open‑source community and frequent releases. This is a strength for rapid iteration, but enterprise IT teams should track release notes and establish a testing cadence, especially when enabling features that touch storage or networked drives.

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Cost and how to get it​

Files is available in two common ways:

• Download the installer for free from the project’s official website and run it locally — the community build is free to use.
• Purchase via the Microsoft Store to support the project; historically the Store listing has been priced around $8–$9 (prices fluctuate and occasional discounts appear). Buying from the Microsoft Store is effectively a way to donate and unlock convenient update delivery via the Store. Verify the current Store price in your region before purchasing.

A practical approach is to download the community build to evaluate compatibility and then support the developers via the Store if you adopt it long‑term.

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How Files compares with other alternatives​

Files does not exist in isolation. The ecosystem of Explorer replacements and utilities includes long‑standing power tools and modern rewrites:

• File Pilot — a newer, performance‑focused entrant that emphasizes lightning‑fast navigation and a tiny footprint. Early builds are previewed as public beta and have different trade‑offs (very fast UI, aggressive CPU use in certain workloads). File Pilot’s beta and licensing approaches have been discussed in community reviews.
• OneCommander, Directory Opus, Total Commander, XYplorer — each of these has strong followings: Directory Opus for enterprise‑grade scripting and UI customization, Total Commander for power users who value decades of batch processing and plugin ecosystems, and XYplorer for portability and scripting. These mature tools may offer features Files doesn’t (scripting engines, advanced FTP/NAS integrations, or enterprise licensing).

How to choose:

• If you want a modern, open‑source GUI with active development and deep customization, try Files.
• If raw speed with a very small binary and a focus on instant responsiveness is the priority, evaluate File Pilot (beta).
• If you require scripted automation, legacy plugin ecosystems, or enterprise features, consider Directory Opus or Total Commander.

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Practical migration checklist​

• Back up existing Favorites/Quick Access links and note any shell extensions you rely on.
• Download the Files installer from the official site and run it in a test user profile.
• Test critical integrations: OneDrive sync status, archive handling (zip/rar/7z), previewing Office and PDF files, and any context‑menu extensions used by enterprise tools.
• Tune performance settings: disable folder size calculation unless needed, reduce thumbnail quality, and disable animations on lower‑end hardware.
• Decide whether to install from Microsoft Store (automatic updates/donation) or use the community build (manual updates). Confirm Store pricing for your account/region before purchase.

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Strengths, weaknesses, and the practical verdict​

Strengths​

• Feature‑rich: Dual‑pane, column view, tags, Omnibar, and preview tooling are real productivity enhancers.
• Customizable: Appearance, behavior, and keyboard bindings are highly configurable.
• Community‑driven: Active releases and an open roadmap mean rapid bug fixes and feature additions.

Weaknesses / Risks​

• Resource trade‑offs: Features like folder size calculation and rich previewing increase CPU and I/O; on low‑end systems this can manifest as higher fan noise or battery use.
• Enterprise fit: Organizations should evaluate telemetry, whitelisting, and integration with managed update systems before wide deployment.
• Compatibility edge cases: Some third‑party shell extensions or specialized plugins may behave differently than they do in Explorer; test before switching workflows.

Verdict​

For power users, creators, and anyone who spends hours each day moving and organizing files, Files represents a substantial upgrade over File Explorer. It modernizes core interactions, reduces friction in common tasks, and offers customization that matches the needs of serious desktop workflows. For enterprise or older hardware, proceed with staged testing and conservative settings.

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Closing thoughts​

Windows File Explorer will remain the default for millions, and Microsoft continues to evolve it slowly. But the existence and rapid progress of apps like Files (and contenders such as File Pilot) highlight a broader truth: file management deserves focused UX thinking and modern engineering. When a tool you use every day becomes faster, clearer, and more predictable, the cumulative productivity gains are real. Files is not just a prettier Explorer — it’s a pragmatic rewrite of core file‑management workflows that many professionals will find worthwhile to adopt, test, and — when it fits — standardize.
If you decide to try it, start with the official download to test compatibility, and consider supporting the project via the Microsoft Store if you rely on it regularly — doing so funds ongoing development and helps the app keep pace with the needs of power users.

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Source: MakeUseOf Windows File Explorer hasn’t changed in years so I use this instead