dual pane Archives

Winsage

January 6, 2026

These 3 Windows file managers made me ditch File Explorer

The text discusses three free file managers that enhance file management capabilities for Windows users: 1. Total Commander: - Dual windows with drag-and-drop support - Side panels for navigation - Built-in tools for batch renaming and archiving - FTP client integration - Favorites for quick access - Comprehensive file operations (copy, move, delete, rename) - File comparison with a built-in text editor - Folder synchronization - Encoding and decoding options - Full-text and duplicate file search - Customizable layout and toolbar - Background downloading support - Secure FTP over SSL/TLS 2. OneCommander: - Custom rendering and DirectX support - Session-saving tabs - Dual-pane view - Choice between Miller-Columns navigation and standard layout - Dark and light themes - User-editable icons - Built-in file preview capabilities - Support for long Unicode paths - Organized favorites into project groups - Quick filtering options - Adaptive view and dynamic columns - File Automator for advanced renaming and conversion 3. FileVoyager: - Dual-pane interface - Multiple browsing modes (report and thumbnail) - Comprehensive file operations - Support for numerous compression formats - Multimedia playback for audio and video - Folder synchronization and file comparison tools - Quick preview for any file format - Support for viewing ebooks and comic book files - Syntax highlighting for source code - Display files in flat or hexadecimal format All three file managers are available for free, with OneCommander offering a Pro version for additional features.

Winsage

December 31, 2025

Windows 11’s best utilities are merging — and it’s more polished than macOS

The third-party file explorer, Files, has integrated with PowerToys Peek in version 4.0.24, enhancing user experience by allowing seamless file previews. This integration began rolling out during the festive week between Christmas and New Year’s. The update also includes a feature for faster file and folder creation with prefilled default names, improvements to the Omnibar with a shadow for suggestions, and text wrapping in the Status Center for longer folder names. Users can now use AND and OR operators for tag searches. Additionally, several fixes were made, including resolving crashes in Dual Pane mode and during git branch switching, as well as correcting display issues with PNG-based .ico files. Files is available for free on GitHub and the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

October 11, 2025

I ditched the Windows File Explorer for this free open-source alternative and couldn’t be happier

The Files app is a modern, free, and open-source file manager designed to improve file management for Windows users. It offers a visually appealing interface based on the Windows Fluent design, with customizable options for colors and backgrounds. The app includes built-in tags support for better file organization, allowing users to assign custom tags to files and folders. It features a Dual Pane view for side-by-side folder comparisons, a Column view for nested directories, a Preview panel, QuickLook support, Git integration, and seamless cloud integration with OneDrive and Google Drive. The Files app is community-driven and can be accessed for free, with an option to support its development by purchasing it from the Microsoft Store. Transitioning to the Files app can enhance productivity by addressing the limitations of Windows File Explorer.

Winsage

September 3, 2025

Fluent design + dual panes = chef’s kiss

Windows 11 has captured 49.08% of the desktop operating system market share, surpassing Windows 10, which holds 45.53%. The File Explorer app has received significant updates, including the introduction of version 4.0, which features a new logo, an Omnibar for navigation and search, a refined Dual Pane mode, improved filtering and search functionalities, integration with various cloud drives, a new Hashes tab for file verification, a Signatures tab for file authenticity, optimized Columns View, a customizable Status Center, and an updated Actions settings page. Additional enhancements include support for new languages, performance improvements, and various fixes addressing previous issues in navigation, layout, shortcuts, and commands.

Winsage

August 5, 2025

Windows 11’s top File Explorer alternative just scored a huge win for power users

The Files app on Windows 11 has been updated to version 3.9.14, introducing a new Signatures page in the properties window for viewing digital signatures associated with files. This feature was previously only available in File Explorer. The update also includes enhanced customization options, such as a Dual Pane setting and improved terminology for the "Add pane" action, now called "Split pane." Users can resize columns in the Column View layout and a header displaying the current search query will now appear during searches. Version 3.9.14 is currently in preview mode, and users on the stable version need to download the Files Preview app to access these new features.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

This file manager for Windows supports workspaces, dual pane browsing, and looks fantastic

Fileside is a file management application that offers a dual-pane view and customizable workspaces for specific projects, allowing users to save personalized layout views. Upon installation, it sets up a default workspace and provides extensive customization options for directory views. Users can preview files directly within the application by pressing the spacebar, facilitating quick access to media and documents. Fileside allows users to save and switch between different workspace configurations easily, streamlining file management compared to Windows 11 File Explorer. The application includes features such as a right-side toolbar for easy access to functions, the ability to display hidden files by default, and comprehensive keyboard navigation with customizable shortcuts. It integrates with local, external, and networked drives and is available for Windows and macOS, with a free trial and a license option.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

I use this app instead of File Explorer for managing my Windows folders

Windows 11's File Explorer is a familiar tool for file management, but alternatives like Directory Opus offer enhanced functionality. Directory Opus, originally developed for the Amiga platform, is a robust file organization tool for Windows. Key features include: - Dual Pane View: Allows simultaneous viewing of files and folders from different locations, facilitating efficient organization. - In-depth Organizational Features: Users can open multiple tabs within each pane, assign statuses to folders, and prioritize tasks. - Built-in Image Converter: Enables conversion of images to various formats and basic editing functions like cropping and rotating. - Synchronization Feature: Allows easy copying and synchronization between panes, with options for sub-folders and integration with cloud services. - Shortcuts to Favorite Apps: Users can create toolbars with shortcuts to frequently used applications for quick access. Directory Opus is designed to exceed file management needs, making it a compelling alternative to File Explorer.

Winsage

April 18, 2025

XYplorer is the best dual-pane file manager that I’ve used on Windows

XYplorer is a dual-pane file manager that enhances productivity with its intuitive interface and robust features, allowing simultaneous access to two folders for easier file management. It offers customization options, advanced search capabilities, file previews, batch renaming, and scripting automation. XYplorer is lightweight, providing faster performance and quicker search results compared to Windows File Explorer. It also has a portable version that can run from a flash drive without installation. XYplorer operates as trialware for 30 days, after which users can purchase a license.

Winsage

April 6, 2025

5 best dual-pane file managers for Windows power users

The default Windows File Explorer lacks multi-pane support, making file management cumbersome for users who frequently transfer files between folders or manage multiple drives. Dual-pane or multi-pane third-party file managers offer solutions by allowing users to view and manage multiple folders side by side within a single window. Total Commander is a veteran dual-pane file manager with built-in FTP support, fast file transfers, and comprehensive archive handling. Directory Opus is a premium file management solution with a dual-pane layout, tabbed navigation, and features like batch file operations and scripting capabilities. FreeCommander XE is a free dual-pane file manager that offers essential features such as tabbed browsing and folder synchronization. XYplorer is a portable dual-pane file manager designed for speed, featuring tabbed browsing and powerful search functions. Q-Dir, or Quad-Directory Explorer, allows for up to four panes in a single window and supports drag-and-drop functionality and color filters.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

5 features the Windows File Explorer needs if it’s ever going to be good

Windows 11's File Explorer is functional but has room for improvement compared to third-party file managers. Suggested enhancements include: - Tagging files with labels and colors for easier organization, similar to macOS's Finder. - Quick file preview capability that allows users to view file contents without opening applications, akin to macOS's Spacebar feature. - A more intuitive bulk renaming process that provides clear options for sequentially renaming files. - Automatic file sorting based on custom rules to streamline organization. - Dual-pane navigation to simplify file management across multiple folders. These features could significantly enhance the user experience and elevate File Explorer's functionality.