Windows 11 users and tinkerers everywhere know the feeling: you pop open File Explorer, and—while it’s familiar as an old shoe—it’s got the feature set of, well, an old shoe. If you ever kicked the heel of File Explorer hoping a magical search filter or batch renaming tool would drop out, join the club. But that’s the nonsensically charming world of Windows for you: an ecosystem where “it does the job” is sometimes the nicest compliment Microsoft’s default tools receive. Enter Files, the File Explorer alternative with a name so straightforward you could trip over it—and with a new v3.9.7 update in its Insider Preview branch, this up-and-comer is looking shinier than ever.
It’s an open secret in Windowsland that File Explorer is the software equivalent of your dad’s minivan. Sure, it runs, it gets you there—sometimes—yet you find yourself longing for…a cupholder with climate control, or at least a GPS that can find its way to Downloads without a detour. Over the years, countless intrepid developers have whipped up competitors, and Files is among the select few to have built a cult following, largely by refusing to be boring. If you think “double-pane navigation” is the stuff of urban legend, Files is here to prove you wrong.
But you don’t win over Windows power-users with a sprinkle of modern UI. No, you come bearing features that the File Explorer team at Redmond can’t—or won’t—deliver. That’s why each update to Files is watched with the kind of anticipation Mac users reserve for new emoji. The latest round of enhancements is no exception.
Among the highlights:
Of course, Files bumps into the technical ceilings that Microsoft won’t—or can’t—lift for third-party tools. Certain integration points and system-level hooks are simply off-limits. But instead of throwing in the towel, Files pivots to maximize what Windows will allow. The result is a product that’s modern, but also honest about its limits. It’s not afraid to say, “I can’t telepathically open network shares, but here’s every local feature you might dream of.”
Tabs? Present and accounted for. Column customization? Oh yes. Quick actions, drag-and-drop enhancements, built-in previewers for file types ranging from the familiar DOCX to those obscure code snippets you forgot you wrote at 3 a.m.? Files wants you to use your computer without fighting it.
At its best, Files feels like the developer sat down and asked, “What’s everything about Windows file management that annoys me?” and systematically fixed it. There’s a little bit of righteous vengeance in every update.
But there’s a charm in that honesty. Files doesn’t overpromise, and it improves fast. For IT departments, that means faster turnarounds and user requests that don’t languish for two Windows releases. For individuals, it’s that rare Windows utility that’s actually fun to use.
And for those who simply want their File Explorer to stop treating them like an intern on their first day, Files is a breath of fresh digital air.
Well, yes—and no. If you’ve ever watched a user crash File Explorer with a 10,000-file directory, or seen a frustrated developer juggle a dozen folders for a build deploy, you know productivity vanishes quickly. The ROI on better file management is real, even if CFOs don’t write it into the quarterly report.
Files, with its focus on customization, stability, and feature velocity, gives back time and sanity. That means the help desk spends less time explaining why File Explorer can’t filter by file type or batch-move folders, and more time on the fun stuff (you know, like password resets).
The larger implication here? Microsoft’s glacial update cycle for core tools like File Explorer doesn’t cut it for modern workflows. When a free app like Files can out-innovate Redmond’s own built-in app in a release or two, you start to wonder whether Windows is due for a new lease on life. Or, minimally, a new approach for default apps.
On the plus side, Files’ community-driven model means bugs get triaged and fixed quickly. It’s not uncommon to see user-reported issues addressed in a matter of weeks, rather than languishing in a “future feature” spreadsheet for years. That level of responsiveness is pure gold if your users like to experiment… or complain.
Plus, you can always fallback to Windows’ own File Explorer if things go sideways—like vacationing in Florida only to flee to Canada at the first sign of a hurricane.
What’s most compelling is the app’s ability to serve as a proof-of-concept, of sorts, for what Windows tools could be if Microsoft were a bit nimbler. Files’ influence is already showing—in the once-glacial pace of change in File Explorer itself, now showing occasional glimmers of modern thinking. Coincidence? You decide.
For IT professionals, Files offers an alternative that can lower support overhead, boost user happiness, and provide features you didn’t even know you were missing. For the average user, it’s a gateway to a more modern, less aggravating Windows experience.
Critically, Files stands as a powerful example of the kind of app that thrives not because Windows is broken, but because it’s evolving. Third-party solutions like Files put creative pressure on Microsoft, ensuring the OS continues to move, if not leap, forward.
So, next time you or your team fumble for a feature that File Explorer forgot, give Files a spin. It might just save your day—or at least impress that one weird colleague who still sorts everything on their hard drive by “date accessed.” And if Files irritates you in some deeply esoteric way, take heart: the devs are probably already working on a fix, and hey, that’s more than you can say for the Windows Snipping Tool.
Source: XDA One of the best File Explorer alternatives gets better with a new update
Why “Files” Matters: When Default Just Isn’t Enough
It’s an open secret in Windowsland that File Explorer is the software equivalent of your dad’s minivan. Sure, it runs, it gets you there—sometimes—yet you find yourself longing for…a cupholder with climate control, or at least a GPS that can find its way to Downloads without a detour. Over the years, countless intrepid developers have whipped up competitors, and Files is among the select few to have built a cult following, largely by refusing to be boring. If you think “double-pane navigation” is the stuff of urban legend, Files is here to prove you wrong.But you don’t win over Windows power-users with a sprinkle of modern UI. No, you come bearing features that the File Explorer team at Redmond can’t—or won’t—deliver. That’s why each update to Files is watched with the kind of anticipation Mac users reserve for new emoji. The latest round of enhancements is no exception.
What’s New in Files v3.9.7?
The preview branch of Files just received its v3.9.7 update, and it’s more than a “bugfixes and stability improvements” snoozefest. This release brings legitimate capability boosts that slide Files even further into “why isn’t this just built into Windows?” territory.Among the highlights:
- Customizable File Sizes: Tired of deciphering KB, MB, GB, or the especially weird ones like “2.3 GiB”? Files now allows you to switch how file sizes are displayed. There’s even a binary option, which is perfect for anyone who dreams in base two or simply wants bragging rights at IT meetups. Admit it, you’ve always wanted to explain to someone why their hard drive reports “953,674,316 KiB.”
- Sidebar Notifications: If you’re ignoring the sidebar (as, let’s face it, many of us do), Files will politely (for now) nudge you via notification. The app wants to make sure you know about customization features that could streamline your workflow. It’s a rare thing: a feature that promotes itself in a way that’s helpful, not obnoxious. Though give it a few releases and, who knows, we may be looking at the world’s first sassy sidebar. “Oh, you’re still dragging files manually?”
- Automatic ZIP File Encoding Improvements: More than just a fancy name, this is about smoother handling and compatibility of compressed files. Anyone who’s ever had a ZIP archive weaponize itself into a corrupt, unreadable mess will appreciate this. Files is clearly gunning for the “makes Windows life easier” trophy.
The Philosophy Behind “Files”: Better by Being Bolder
Let’s step back from the feature buffet for a second. Files’ development is shaped by the peculiar constraints (and eccentricities) of the Windows platform itself. It’s what happens when a developer looks at default File Explorer and asks, “Why stop there?” File Explorer was designed to be solid, but not adventurous—Files asks what happens if you make it both.Of course, Files bumps into the technical ceilings that Microsoft won’t—or can’t—lift for third-party tools. Certain integration points and system-level hooks are simply off-limits. But instead of throwing in the towel, Files pivots to maximize what Windows will allow. The result is a product that’s modern, but also honest about its limits. It’s not afraid to say, “I can’t telepathically open network shares, but here’s every local feature you might dream of.”
The Power-User’s Playground
The beauty of software like Files is how it transforms the way we interact with our digital stuff. Most users crave little tweaks—batch renaming, advanced sorting, or a tabbed interface that doesn’t look like a relic from Windows XP. Files delivers, and goes further.Tabs? Present and accounted for. Column customization? Oh yes. Quick actions, drag-and-drop enhancements, built-in previewers for file types ranging from the familiar DOCX to those obscure code snippets you forgot you wrote at 3 a.m.? Files wants you to use your computer without fighting it.
At its best, Files feels like the developer sat down and asked, “What’s everything about Windows file management that annoys me?” and systematically fixed it. There’s a little bit of righteous vengeance in every update.
Room for Improvement: Not Quite Perfection
No alternative is perfect—Files included. The developers openly acknowledge that certain system-level features will always be just out of reach, thanks to Windows’ sandboxing and API limitations. Network drive integration, ultra-deep contextual menus, or that ephemeral “open in terminal” from any folder? Some things still belong to File Explorer.But there’s a charm in that honesty. Files doesn’t overpromise, and it improves fast. For IT departments, that means faster turnarounds and user requests that don’t languish for two Windows releases. For individuals, it’s that rare Windows utility that’s actually fun to use.
And for those who simply want their File Explorer to stop treating them like an intern on their first day, Files is a breath of fresh digital air.
Real-World IT Impact: Why Bother with a File Explorer Alternative?
Why should any self-respecting IT department, power user, or even casual Windows enthusiast care about File Explorer alternatives? Isn’t it just about opening, closing, and copying files?Well, yes—and no. If you’ve ever watched a user crash File Explorer with a 10,000-file directory, or seen a frustrated developer juggle a dozen folders for a build deploy, you know productivity vanishes quickly. The ROI on better file management is real, even if CFOs don’t write it into the quarterly report.
Files, with its focus on customization, stability, and feature velocity, gives back time and sanity. That means the help desk spends less time explaining why File Explorer can’t filter by file type or batch-move folders, and more time on the fun stuff (you know, like password resets).
The larger implication here? Microsoft’s glacial update cycle for core tools like File Explorer doesn’t cut it for modern workflows. When a free app like Files can out-innovate Redmond’s own built-in app in a release or two, you start to wonder whether Windows is due for a new lease on life. Or, minimally, a new approach for default apps.
Risks, Rewards, and the Bleeding Edge
All is not sunshine and roses, though: running Insider Preview builds, especially of third-party utilities, comes with risk. IT professionals know the drill—a spiffy feature here, an unexpected compatibility issue over there. If you’re contemplating rolling Files out on a fleet of mission-critical machines, due diligence reigns supreme.On the plus side, Files’ community-driven model means bugs get triaged and fixed quickly. It’s not uncommon to see user-reported issues addressed in a matter of weeks, rather than languishing in a “future feature” spreadsheet for years. That level of responsiveness is pure gold if your users like to experiment… or complain.
Plus, you can always fallback to Windows’ own File Explorer if things go sideways—like vacationing in Florida only to flee to Canada at the first sign of a hurricane.
A Look at the Future: What Can We Expect Next?
If history’s any teacher, the Files team isn’t done. Each Insider Preview build hints at a dev roadmap that’s ambitious, yet grounded in actual user pain points. Expect even bolder usability improvements, continued UI refinement, and a willingness to embrace features that make life better for users, not just fancier.What’s most compelling is the app’s ability to serve as a proof-of-concept, of sorts, for what Windows tools could be if Microsoft were a bit nimbler. Files’ influence is already showing—in the once-glacial pace of change in File Explorer itself, now showing occasional glimmers of modern thinking. Coincidence? You decide.
The Bottom Line: Files is the Competition Microsoft Can’t Ignore
Windows 11 shipped with a File Explorer that, let’s be honest, most of us hoped would be more than just a face lift. But change, as we’re so often reminded, comes from the outside. Files is what File Explorer could be if it cared a little more… or, let’s face it, at all.For IT professionals, Files offers an alternative that can lower support overhead, boost user happiness, and provide features you didn’t even know you were missing. For the average user, it’s a gateway to a more modern, less aggravating Windows experience.
Critically, Files stands as a powerful example of the kind of app that thrives not because Windows is broken, but because it’s evolving. Third-party solutions like Files put creative pressure on Microsoft, ensuring the OS continues to move, if not leap, forward.
So, next time you or your team fumble for a feature that File Explorer forgot, give Files a spin. It might just save your day—or at least impress that one weird colleague who still sorts everything on their hard drive by “date accessed.” And if Files irritates you in some deeply esoteric way, take heart: the devs are probably already working on a fix, and hey, that’s more than you can say for the Windows Snipping Tool.
Source: XDA One of the best File Explorer alternatives gets better with a new update
