Using File Explorer In Windows 10
Unlike Windows 8, Windows 10 actually feels designed for a PC with a keyboard and mouse. Windows 7 users will be much more at home with Windows 10, but there are still some big changes. If you’re a Windows 7 user, you might be surprised to see just how much has changed after you upgrade. If you log in with a Microsoft account, many desktop settings (including your wallpaper) will sync between your PCs. You’ll be automatically logged into Microsoft services like the OneDrive client integrated into Windows. A Microsoft account is mandatory to use some of the new features, like the Windows Store.
File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems on a computer. Using it on the latest windows operating system may sound a bit boring but File Explorer is something you're bound to use a lot in Windows 10 and if you don't, you should. It's far more than just a way to find things on your computer so here's how to use File Explorer in Windows 10.
Open it easily
Now to start using File Explorer you're going to need to open it up on your desktop. By default there's a shortcut on the task bar but here's some other ways of opening it quickly and easily. Try using the Windows key + E, using Cortana search and the link in the Start menu above Settings.
With so many different files on your PC, it's really useful to change how you're viewing them in File Explorer depending on what they are. For example, you'll probably want to look at images fairly large but documents in a list. Using the View tab, you can quickly choose between the different options such as List, Details and sizes from Small to Extra Large. In the bottom-right corner you'll see options for switching between Details and Large icons on the fly.
Quick Access
Quick Access is one of our favourite things in File Explorer. It used to be called favourites and you'll find it at the top of the left-hand Navigation panel.
You don't need to do anything for it to work as it will automatically populate with handy items. However, you can pin anything to it in the right-click menu if you want. Click on Quick Access to view your frequent folders and recent files.
Preview pane
Under the View tab in File Explorer switch on the Preview pane, especially if you're browsing images or videos.
This adds a section on the right where you'll get a, well, preview of the file so you can see images in a larger size or even watch a video. You can adjust the size of Preview pane depending on the content or the size of your File Explorer window.
File extensions
Another item in the View tab is very handy so tick and untick the File extensions box as and when you need to.
This one's pretty self-explanatory and will display the file extensions of your files (or not) so you can easily see whether an image is either a JPEG or a PNG image.
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