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Windows 11 File Explorer can open to your preferred starting page, keep chosen folders close at hand, and show files in a layout that suits the task. Its built-in controls also let you reveal file extensions, hidden items, or selection checkboxes—no extra utility required. Menu names can vary slightly between Windows 11 releases; where a choice is important, use the setting name as well as the path below.
Choose what File Explorer opens first
File Explorer opens to Home by default. Choose Home if you want recent and favorite Office.com files and PC or cloud search nearby; choose This PC if you prefer to start with drives and network locations. Neither is the right choice for everyone.
- Open File Explorer.
- Select the three-dot menu on the command bar, then Options. In some versions, the dialog may be accessible through View > Options.
- On the General tab, find Open File Explorer to and select Home or This PC.
- Select Apply, then OK.
Microsoft describes the available starting location and related File Explorer options in its File Explorer in Windows guide.
Make Quick access more useful
Quick access is the pinned-folder area in Home. Pin folders you revisit often, and unpin ones you no longer need.
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- To add a folder, right-click it (or press and hold it on a touch screen) and choose Pin to Quick access.
- To remove a pinned folder, right-click or press and hold it, then choose Unpin from Quick access.
- To remove a particular recent item from Quick access, right-click that item and choose the remove option shown in the menu.
Windows 11 version 22H2 guidance says Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos are pinned by default. If one is missing, open Home, select the Up navigation button to reach the known folders, then pin the folder again.
Show pinned folders without recent or frequent items
If you want a cleaner Home view, or do not want recently used files and frequently used folders listed there, turn off those entries in File Explorer’s privacy options:
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- In File Explorer, open the three-dot menu and select Options (or use View > Options where that path appears).
- On the General tab, clear the checkboxes for recently used files and frequently used folders.
- Select Apply, then OK.
Turning these options on again may make previously removed items appear in the list. These controls affect what File Explorer displays in Quick access; they are not a general deletion of files from your PC.
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Restore or change the left navigation pane
The navigation pane provides shortcuts to folders, drives, libraries, pinned items, and network locations. If it is hidden, select View > Show > Navigation Pane to display it. To include libraries, open the navigation-pane controls and select Show libraries.
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Pick a layout and adjust spacing
Use View to switch among available layouts, such as icon views, List, Details, Tiles, or Content. Choose based on what you need to see:
- Details shows attributes such as name and date modified, which makes it useful when comparing or sorting file information.
- Icon layouts give thumbnails and visual recognition more prominence.
- List, Tiles, or Content provide other balances of compactness and visible information; the choices available can depend on the current folder or Windows version.
To fit more entries into the window, select View > Compact view. Microsoft Support’s instruction is: “To reduce the space between files, select View > Compact view.” Standard spacing leaves more room around each entry; Compact view reduces that spacing.
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Show file extensions, hidden items, or checkboxes
Open View > Show and enable the option you need:
- File name extensions displays suffixes such as .pdf or .txt, helping you distinguish file types.
- Hidden items displays files and folders that are normally hidden. These can include system or application data, so do not edit unfamiliar items just because they are visible.
- Item check boxes adds checkboxes beside items so you can select files without relying on modifier keys or precise clicks.
These are visibility and selection controls. Showing hidden items does not itself change or protect those files.
Navigate with tabs, a keyboard, or a screen reader
File Explorer has distinct regions, including the tabs, navigation pane, content pane, optional Details pane, and view and status controls. Microsoft’s screen-reader and navigation guide documents keyboard movement through these areas.
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- Press F6 or Shift+F6 to move among major regions.
- Use the arrow keys to browse items in a region.
- Press Ctrl+E to focus the search box.
A Windows 11 preview update dated July 28, 2026, documents middle-clicking a folder in Home or the Address Bar to open it in a new tab. Microsoft says the update rolls out gradually, so this behavior may not yet be available on every PC. See the KB5101684 preview update notes for the rollout details.
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