15 Awesome Tips and Tricks for Windows 10 File Explorer

Windows 10 has been a major improvement over its predecessor, Windows 8. And one of the areas that received a significant upgrade is the File Explorer. No longer just a boring file browser, it now offers a range of hidden shortcuts and features that can make your life easier. In this article, we will explore some of the coolest tips and tricks that will help you use Windows 10 File Explorer like a pro.

Handy Keyboard Shortcuts

Let's start with some useful keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and effort when navigating the File Explorer. Here are a few to remember:

• Shift+Del: Deletes a file permanently, bypassing the Recycle Bin
• Ctrl+N: Opens the current folder in a new File Explorer window
• Ctrl+F: Moves the cursor to the search bar
• Alt+Up arrow key: Moves to the parent folder
• Alt+right/left arrow key: Navigates the folders in the sidebar
• Ctrl+Shift+N: Creates a new folder
• Ctrl+W: Closes the current File Explorer window
• Ctrl+Shift+Z: Undeletes the last deleted file in the folder
• Ctrl+Shift+Y: Redoes the deletion of recently restored files
• Shift+right-click: Reveals hidden context menu options

Recent File History

If you frequently work with the same files, the Recent File History feature in File Explorer can be a real time-saver. It remembers the files you have recently opened and worked with. However, if you have privacy concerns or are working with confidential documents, you may want to turn this feature off. To do so, open File Explorer, click on File, and select “Change folder and search options.” Under the General tab, you can clear the recent file history and toggle the feature on or off under the Privacy tab.

Invert File Selection

When dealing with a large number of files, it can be tedious to manually select the ones you want to keep or delete. File Explorer offers a handy shortcut to invert your file selection. Say you want to delete 90 out of 100 files. Instead of selecting the 90 files individually, you can select the 10 you want to keep and then choose the “Invert Select” option under the Home tab. This will automatically select the remaining 90 files for deletion. The keyboard shortcut for this is Alt+H+S+I.

Rotate Pics Left/Right

If you work with images frequently, you'll find this shortcut really handy. File Explorer allows you to easily rotate images that are not in the right angle. Simply select the image(s) you want to rotate and click on the “Rotate left” or “Rotate right” option under the Picture Tools tab. This feature also works with bulk-selected images.

Recycle Bin Shortcut in File Explorer

If you don't want the Recycle Bin shortcut cluttering your desktop but still need quick access to it, you can create a shortcut right inside File Explorer. Simply right-click on an empty space in File Explorer, select “Show all folders here,” and you can access the Recycle Bin directly from the File Explorer interface.

Replace Quick Access with This PC

By default, Windows 10 opens File Explorer in the Quick Access view. If you prefer the old-school “This PC” view, you can change it. Right-click on File Explorer, select “Options,” and under the General tab, choose “This PC” from the “Open File Explorer to” dropdown menu.

Customize Quick Access Shortcuts

Quick Access is a new feature in File Explorer that allows you to add shortcuts to frequently accessed folders. You can customize this list by dragging and dropping folders into the Quick Access section. This makes it easy to navigate to your favorite folders quickly.

Edit Send-to Option

The “Send to” option in the right-click context menu can be customized to include more useful shortcuts. By typing “shell:sendto” in the Run prompt (Windows+R), you can access the folder where you can delete useless shortcuts and create new ones. This allows you to send files to specific locations or applications with ease.

Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access Toolbar in File Explorer is hidden by default, but you can make it visible. Right-click on any item in the ribbon-style menu and select “Show Quick Access Toolbar.” This allows you to add useful shortcuts from the ribbon-style menu to the toolbar, making them easily accessible.

Advanced Search Operators

File Explorer supports advanced search operators similar to those used in search engines like Google. You can use these operators to refine your searches and save time. Simply click on the search field or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F to start searching. For example, you can search for documents containing specific keywords or search within specific folders.

Save Searches

If you frequently use complex search queries, you can save them for future use. After performing a search with the desired parameters, click on the “Save search” option in the menu and give it a name. This allows you to repeat the search with a single click, saving you time and effort.

Group Files

File Explorer allows you to group files inside folders based on various parameters such as type, date, name, tags, and dimensions. This can help you organize your files and find them more easily. Simply click on the “Group by” option and choose how you want to group the files within a specific folder.

Open Websites

Did you know that you can open websites directly from File Explorer? Simply type the website's address or URL in the address bar and hit Enter. The site will open in your default web browser, allowing you to quickly access your favorite websites without opening a browser separately.

Access Network Files

File Explorer can be used to push files from your computer to other devices on your network, such as Android TVs or NAS devices. By enabling “Storage Access” on the target device and typing the appropriate address in File Explorer, you can easily transfer files between devices on your network.

Dark Theme in File Explorer

If you prefer a darker theme, you can switch File Explorer to dark mode. Simply go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and change the default app mode from Light to Dark. This feature is available in Windows 10 October 2018 Update or later.

These tips and tricks will help you make the most of Windows 10 File Explorer and enhance your productivity. You can also easily learn how to speed up your Windows Explorer if it starts running slow. Whether you're a power user or a casual PC user, these shortcuts and features will make your file management tasks easier and more efficient. Try them out and let us know your favorite File Explorer shortcuts in the comments below.