In a notable shift within the desktop operating system landscape, Windows 11 has recently emerged as the leading platform, capturing 49.08% of the market share, edging past its predecessor, Windows 10, which holds 45.53%. This transition comes after a period of hesitance among users, many of whom previously favored Windows 10 due to perceived design flaws and stringent hardware requirements associated with Windows 11. However, recent enhancements and updates have begun to sway opinions.
One of the critical components of the operating system, the File Explorer app, has seen significant improvements. Users often spend considerable time navigating this application, making its functionality paramount. Microsoft has introduced a series of updates, including AI-driven actions that streamline user interactions. For instance, users can now right-click on a file to quickly execute actions such as blurring backgrounds or conducting Bing Visual Searches. The latest iteration, the ‘Files’ app, has been upgraded to version 4.0, bringing a host of new features and a refreshed aesthetic.
<h2 class="article-bodysection” id=”section-files-v4-whats-new”>Files v4: What’s New
Updated Icon
The Files v4.0 update introduces a vibrant new logo that aligns seamlessly with Microsoft’s Fluent design language, enhancing the overall user experience.
Omnibar
A standout feature in this update is the Omnibar, which replaces the traditional Address Bar. This new control combines the path bar and search box into a single, user-friendly interface, allowing for easy navigation and search mode toggling. Additionally, a powerful Command Palette mode grants access to advanced commands and actions, further enhancing usability.
Dual Pane
The Dual Pane mode has been refined, enabling users to view and manage two folders side-by-side, facilitating effortless file transfers without the need to switch tabs. Enhancements include:
- Toggling Dual Pane mode with Ctrl+Shift+S.
- A dedicated settings section for Dual Pane under Settings → Layout → Dual Pane.
- New panes opening with the current path for streamlined navigation.
- Renaming the “Add pane” option to “Split pane” for clarity.
Filtering and Search
To enhance clarity, filtering and searching have been distinctly separated into two functionalities. The search feature utilizes the Windows Search index for comprehensive queries, while the filter option refines results within the current folder. Users can initiate a search with Ctrl+F or by clicking the search icon in the Omnibar, while filtering can be accessed via the toolbar or with Ctrl+Shift+F.
Cloud Drives
- Integration with MagentaCLOUD, Sync, and OX Drive has been added, broadening cloud storage options directly within the app.
- OneDrive storage usage is now conveniently displayed in the Properties window.
Compare Hashes
A new Hashes tab in Properties allows users to verify a file’s hash against known values or other files, enhancing security and reliability.
File Signatures
The introduction of a Signatures tab in Properties enables users to quickly verify a file’s authenticity, adding an extra layer of trust.
Columns View
Columns View has been optimized to automatically adjust widths to fit file names, with manual resizing options available for user convenience.
Status Center
- Users can now control the visibility of the Status Center icon under Settings → Appearance → Toolbars → Status Center, with default settings ensuring it remains visible during tasks.
- Notification badges clear automatically upon accessing the Status Center.
- Font installation progress is now displayed, providing real-time feedback.
Actions Settings Page
The Actions settings page has been redesigned for smaller window sizes and now includes a search box for quick command filtering.
Archives
- The 7-Zip dependency has been updated to version 25.01.
- New archives default to UTF-8 encoding, with auto-detection of encoding during extraction.
Customizable File Size Units
Users can now select whether file sizes are displayed in binary (MiB) or decimal (MB) units, offering flexibility in data presentation.
Quick Access to Diagnostics
Keyboard shortcuts have been introduced for quick access to log files and folders:
- Open the log file with Ctrl+.
- Open the log folder with Ctrl+Shift+.
Localization
The update expands language support to include Armenian, enhancing accessibility for a broader user base.
Other Highlights
- Users can now browse all supported image formats when selecting a background in Settings.
- Icon file format browsing has also been improved in Properties.
- The Release Notes dialog has been replaced with a dedicated tab for easier exploration of updates.
- Performance enhancements have been made to the Quick Access widget on the Home Page.
- The review prompt in the Store version of Files will now appear less frequently and is designed to be less intrusive.
- Experimental support for long file paths allows for greater flexibility in managing complex projects.
<h2 class="article-bodysection” id=”section-files-v4-0-fixes”>Files v4.0: Fixes
Updates and Release Notes
- Fixed an error dialog that sometimes appeared post-update.
- Resolved a crash issue occurring during updates.
- Addressed a problem where the WebView process for the Release Notes page remained active in the background.
- Corrected theme inconsistencies on the Release Notes page.
Settings Dialog
- Fixed inaccuracies in the Windows version display.
- Resolved icon display issues for “developer tools” on Windows 10.
Sorting and Grouping
- Addressed sorting issues with files containing #-# numbering.
- Fixed case sensitivity in name sorting.
- Corrected misalignment in group header text.
Shortcuts and Commands
- Resolved issues with the “Run with PowerShell” action not passing the working directory.
- Fixed the delete key functionality after removing an item from selection.
- Corrected file selection issues via keyboard.
- Fixed focus movement issues when renaming items with the Home key.
Navigation and Layout
- Fixed refresh issues on the Home Page.
- Resolved focus issues with adaptive layout changes.
- Corrected focus stealing by inactive panes during file changes.
- Fixed layout switching focus issues.
- Corrected layout icon mismatches.
- Improved RTL support, although some areas remain unsupported.
- Addressed display issues for Cleanup and Format options on Cloud Drives.
- Fixed file-operation size display issues in the Status Center.
- Resolved deletion issues for items not fitting in the Recycle Bin.
- Fixed opening issues for folders ending in .url.
- Addressed errors with shortcuts in Git repositories.
- Fixed crashes related to invalid background images.
- Corrected text wrapping issues on the permissions page.
- Resolved sidebar flickering during properties window resizing.
- Fixed unpinning issues for Recycle Bin when installing multiple Files instances.
- Addressed touch selection clearing issues.
- Fixed toolbar button icon state discrepancies.
- Resolved missing extract button issues in the toolbar.
- Corrected menu labels for overflow items in the toolbar.
