Let’s face it, Windows users have been asking for a more efficient way to multitask with File Explorer for years. And finally, Microsoft granted us a shiny, tabbed interface for File Explorer with the Windows 11 Moment 1 Update. This was a game-changer—like discovering your favorite pair of shoes has pockets! However, the excitement was somewhat tempered as users quickly realized it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Despite its modern redesign, File Explorer’s behavior still baffled the community by stubbornly opening new windows instead of tabs in certain scenarios. But fret not, Microsoft is now addressing this annoyance with Windows 11 Build 22635.4515—and there's more under the hood to make File Explorer even better.
In Build 22635.4515, Windows brings a much-needed tweak: it lets you choose between opening folder links in new tabs within the same window or in entirely new windows. This small change makes a huge difference to productivity, especially for users juggling multiple tasks across different directories. Think of it as giving users back the control they always should have had.
The default behavior will still open windows (i.e., no change for those content with the status quo), but tab enthusiasts can rejoice by enabling the new behavior through Folder Options. Microsoft has also thrown in some bonus improvements, such as making desktop folders and external folder links open by default in a new tab when this option is enabled.
Now consider operating systems like macOS, which have long offered intuitive multi-tabbed Finder experiences. In a sense, Windows has been playing catch-up. This recent fix isn’t just about convenience; it’s a signal from Microsoft of their willingness to fine-tune user experience rather than hastily adding features and moving on.
Think of it as temporarily having access to a parallel version of Windows—a version that Microsoft is too shy to officially announce. By using tools like this, enthusiasts can significantly enhance their Windows experience before anyone else, as long as they’re willing to play lab rat.
What’s your take on these new changes? Better yet, do you think Microsoft has more room to improve File Explorer? Share your thoughts in the forum—let’s dive into what makes File Explorer Windows’ most loved (and sometimes hated) app!
Source: Neowin Microsoft is finally fixing a very annoying quirk of Windows 11 File Explorer tabs
What Exactly Is the Fix?
For a while now, even with tabs, Windows 11's File Explorer behaved inconsistently. While you could manually open folder links in a new tab, clicking a folder link—e.g., from desktop shortcuts or external apps—would annoyingly spawn a new File Explorer window, breaking the fluidity that tabs were supposed to bring.In Build 22635.4515, Windows brings a much-needed tweak: it lets you choose between opening folder links in new tabs within the same window or in entirely new windows. This small change makes a huge difference to productivity, especially for users juggling multiple tasks across different directories. Think of it as giving users back the control they always should have had.
The default behavior will still open windows (i.e., no change for those content with the status quo), but tab enthusiasts can rejoice by enabling the new behavior through Folder Options. Microsoft has also thrown in some bonus improvements, such as making desktop folders and external folder links open by default in a new tab when this option is enabled.
How to Enable This Feature with ViVeTool
Eager to try it out before it rolls out universally? You can force-enable the new tab behavior using third-party tinkering wizardry called ViVeTool. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:- Download ViVeTool: Obtain the tool from GitHub and extract the contents to a convenient folder on your system (e.g.,
C:\Vive). - Open Command Prompt with Administrator Rights: This is crucial because you need elevated permissions to make system-level changes.
- Navigate to ViVeTool’s Location:
Use thecdcommand to move to the folder where ViVeTool is located.
Code:cd C:\Vive - Input the Command to Enable the Feature:
Press Enter to apply the configuration changes.Code:vivetool /enable /id:49143212,52081114,48433719 - Restart Your PC: As always, a restart is required to cement the changes.
- Enable Tabs in Folder Options: Once your system is booted, navigate to
Folder Options→General→ and select the option to open desktop/external folder links in new tabs instead of new windows.
Other Boosts Coming to Windows 11 File Explorer
Microsoft isn't stopping with tabs—they're making updates across the board to File Explorer, continuing the vision of a fully modernized user experience. Some of the additional improvements in Build 22635.4515 include:- OneDrive Backup Notifications Toggle: Those using OneDrive backup services can now disable the redundant notifications popping up in the File Explorer address bar. Admit it—nobody likes clutter clouding their workflow!
- Smothered with Hidden Features? The latest Win builds often ship with features Microsoft hasn’t yet announced by default. Why not play investigator? ViVeTool unlocks other experimental features hidden in beta builds. Just input the right feature IDs, and you might stumble upon something cool before release.
Why Does This Matter?
When Windows 11 introduced tabs to File Explorer, it marked a major milestone for multitasking within the operating system ecosystem, but the ecosystem still contains quirks that would have felt thoroughly modern in 2013, not 2024. A cohesive tabbed experience allows users to treat File Explorer more like a web browser—consolidating everything into a single UI while minimizing clutter.Now consider operating systems like macOS, which have long offered intuitive multi-tabbed Finder experiences. In a sense, Windows has been playing catch-up. This recent fix isn’t just about convenience; it’s a signal from Microsoft of their willingness to fine-tune user experience rather than hastily adding features and moving on.
The ViVeTool Revolution: Why Should You Care?
If you haven’t heard of ViVeTool before, it’s not wizardry—it’s a powerful way to unlock experimental Windows features lurking behind the scenes of beta builds. With just a few commands, users can enable developer previews of features that won’t make it to public Windows builds for weeks (or months).Think of it as temporarily having access to a parallel version of Windows—a version that Microsoft is too shy to officially announce. By using tools like this, enthusiasts can significantly enhance their Windows experience before anyone else, as long as they’re willing to play lab rat.
The Final Word for Windows Users
Microsoft’s iterating File Explorer into a productivity powerhouse with each build update—with tabs now becoming genuinely useful and other improvements slowly ironing out the quirks we’ve lived with for years. This might not seem like “big news” for some, but to Windows power users, it’s a huge quality-of-life win. The messy days of juggling numerous File Explorer windows like plates at a circus may finally—at long last—be drawing to a close.What’s your take on these new changes? Better yet, do you think Microsoft has more room to improve File Explorer? Share your thoughts in the forum—let’s dive into what makes File Explorer Windows’ most loved (and sometimes hated) app!
Source: Neowin Microsoft is finally fixing a very annoying quirk of Windows 11 File Explorer tabs