A major update just shipped to the Files app, adding a modern touch to the archaic copy-paste progress dialogs in the stock File Explorer on Windows 11
Files v3 adds a modern touch and appeal to Microsoft’s File Explorer.
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What you need to know
File Explorer is perhaps the most essential element for users onWindows 11, and Microsoft is well aware of this. In the past few months, we’ve seen the companyship significant updates to the platform, ultimately overhauling its user experience.
For instance, the just-releasedWindows 11 2023 Update (version 23H2)adds a modern appeal to File Explorer via a new codebase using the WinUI 3 from the Windows App SDK (WASDK) and XAML, while retaining the look and feel of the legacy version.
While Microsoft continues doubling its efforts to make File Explorer better and more modern, the updates might not necessarily satisfy the user’s wants fully. Luckily, there’s a third-party file manager dubbed “Files” that can help you achieve the sophisticated and modern appeal you’re seeking. Moreover, a significant update for the platform just dropped, bumping it to version 3.0.
LikeStart11 from Stardock(which also received a significant update recently), which lets users customize the Start menu, Files serves a similar purpose, but its capabilities are focused on the File Explorer.
The new update brings brand-new icons to the Files app. The public version retains its yellow color to maintain familiarity with the stock File Explorer, whereas the developer and preview versions are purple and blue, respectively.
It also ships with a redesigned user interface featuring “a rounded files area, adjusted background opacity, and a reworked from the ground-up sidebar.” Moreover, files pinned on the sidebar will now have a distinct icon color, making it easy for the user to identify them.
Files v3 also adds a classic and modern touch to the “outdated copy-paste progress dialogs in the stock File Explorer.” Users can check the status of the current procedure by clicking on the progress icon in the upper-right corner of the app.
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Here’s the full changelog for the release:
Files App | $8.99 at Microsoft Store
This third-party file explorer has many features people have requested for years from the built-in File Explorer on Windows. It has tabs, a column view, a file preview, and a customizable interface.
FILES V3: WHAT’S NEW
FILES V3: CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS
Files App | $8.99 at Microsoft Store
This third-party file explorer has many features people have requested for years from the built-in File Explorer on Windows. It has tabs, a column view, a file preview, and a customizable interface.
Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You’ll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.
