What Is Windows Explorer In Windows 10

File manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system

This article is about the Microsoft Windows file listing browser. For exploring file system listings, run across file browser. For exploring within files, see file viewer.

Windows File Explorer

File Explorer on Windows 10 in Light App Mode showing special folders and drives, with the ribbon minimized
Developer(south)	Microsoft
Initial release	Baronial fifteen, 1995; 26 years agone  (1995-08-15)
Stable release	21H2 (10.0.22000.613) (April 12, 2022; 3 days ago  (2022-04-12) [1]) [±]
Preview release	ten.0.22598.100 (Apr 15, 2022; 0 days ago  (2022-04-15) [2]) [±]
Included with	Windows 95 and later
Predecessor	Program Director, File Manager
Type	Trounce, file manager

Windows File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating arrangement from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. It is also the component of the operating arrangement that presents many user interface items on the screen such as the taskbar and desktop. Controlling the computer is possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File ▸ Run command in Task Manager on NT-derived versions of Windows will role without it, as volition commands typed in a command prompt window).

Overview [edit]

Windows Explorer was kickoff included with Windows 95 as a replacement for File Manager, which came with all versions of Windows iii.x operating systems. Explorer could be accessed past double-clicking the new My Computer desktop icon or launched from the new First Menu that replaced the earlier Program Manager. At that place is also a shortcut key combination: Windows key+E. Successive versions of Windows (and in some cases, Cyberspace Explorer) introduced new features and capabilities, removed other features, and more often than not progressed from being a uncomplicated file organization navigation tool into a task-based file management system.

While "Windows Explorer" or "File Explorer" is a term most commonly used to describe the file management aspect of the operating arrangement, the Explorer procedure besides houses the operating system's search functionality and File Blazon associations (based on filename extensions), and is responsible for displaying the desktop icons, the Start Card, the Taskbar, and the Control Panel. Collectively, these features are known as the Windows shell.

After a user logs in, the explorer process is created by the userinit process. Userinit performs some initialization of the user environment (such equally running the login script and applying group policies) and so looks in the registry at the Shell value and creates a process to run the arrangement-defined beat out – by default, Explorer.exe. And then Userinit exits. This is why Explorer.exe is shown by diverse process explorers with no parent – its parent has exited.

History [edit]

In 1995, Microsoft first released test versions of a shell refresh, named the Shell Technology Preview, and often referred to informally as "NewShell".^[3] The update was designed to replace the Windows 3.ten Program Director/File Managing director based shell with Windows Explorer. The release provided capabilities quite similar to that of the Windows "Chicago" (codename for Windows 95) beat during its tardily beta phases, withal was intended to be nix more than a exam release.^[4] There were two public releases of the Beat Technology Preview, made bachelor to MSDN and CompuServe users: May 26, 1995 and August viii, 1995. Both held Windows Explorer builds of 3.51.1053.1. The Beat out Engineering science Preview programme never saw a terminal release nether NT iii.51. The entire program was moved across to the Cairo development grouping who finally integrated the new crush design into the NT code with the release of NT four.0 in July 1996.

Windows 98 and Windows Desktop Update [edit]

With the release of the Windows Desktop Update (packaged with Cyberspace Explorer 4 as an optional component, and included in Windows 98), Windows Explorer became "integrated" with Net Explorer, well-nigh notably with the addition of navigation arrows (back and forrad) for moving betwixt recently visited directories, as well every bit Net Explorer'due south Favorites menu.

An address bar was also added to Windows Explorer, which a user could type in directory paths directly, and be taken to that folder.

Another feature that was based on Internet Explorer technology was customized folders. Such folders contained a hidden web page that controlled the way the Windows Explorer displayed the contents of the folder.

Windows ME and Windows 2000 [edit]

The "Web-style" folders view, with the left Explorer pane displaying details for the object currently selected, is turned on by default. For certain file types, such as pictures and media files, a preview is likewise displayed in the left pane.^[5] The Windows 2000 Explorer featured an interactive media player every bit the previewer for sound and video files. Nevertheless, such a previewer tin be enabled in Windows ME through the apply of folder customization templates.^[6] Windows Explorer in Windows 2000 and Windows ME allows for custom thumbnail previewers and tooltip handlers. The default file tooltip displays file championship, writer, subject and comments;^[seven] this metadata may be read from a special NTFS stream, if the file is on an NTFS book, or from a COM Structured Storage stream, if the file is a structured storage document. All Microsoft Function documents since Part 95^[8] make use of structured storage, so their metadata is displayable in the Windows 2000 Explorer default tooltip. File shortcuts tin can also store comments which are displayed every bit a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the shortcut.

The right-mitt pane, which usually just lists files and folders, can also be customized. For example, the contents of the organization folders aren't displayed by default, instead showing in the right pane a warning to the user that modifying the contents of the system folders could harm their computer. It'southward possible to ascertain additional Explorer panes past using DIV elements in folder template files.^[9] This feature was abused by computer viruses that employed malicious scripts, Java applets, or ActiveX controls in folder template files every bit their infection vector. Ii such viruses are VBS/Roor-C^[10] and VBS.Redlof.a.^[eleven]

Other Explorer UI elements that can be customized include columns in "Details" view, icon overlays, and search providers: the new DHTML-based search pane is integrated into Windows 2000 Explorer, dissimilar the dissever search dialog establish in all previous Explorer versions.^[12]

Search capabilities were added, offer full-text searches of documents, with options to filter past appointment (including arbitrary ranges like "modified within the concluding calendar week"), size, and file blazon. The Indexing Service has also been integrated into the operating arrangement and the search pane congenital into Explorer allows searching files indexed by its database.^[13] The ability to customize the standard buttons was too added.

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows XP, showing All Users binder contents.

There were significant changes fabricated to Windows Explorer in Windows XP, both visually and functionally. Microsoft focused especially on making Explorer more discoverable and chore-based, also as adding several new features to reverberate the growing employ of a reckoner every bit a digital hub.

Windows Explorer in Windows Server 2003 contains still features as Windows XP, but the task panes and search companion are disabled past default.

Job pane [edit]

The task pane is displayed on the left-paw side of the window instead of the traditional folder tree view. It presents the user with a listing of common actions and destinations that are relevant to the current directory or file(due south) selected. For instance, when in a directory containing mostly pictures, a ready of "Picture tasks" is shown, offer the options to display these pictures as a slide show, to impress them out, or to go online to social club prints. Conversely, a folder containing music files would offer options to play those files in a media histrion or to get online to buy music. Windows XP had a Media bar but it was removed with SP1. The Media Bar was only available with Windows XP RTM.

Every folder also has "File and Folder Tasks", offer options to create new folders, share a folder on the local network, publish files or folders to a website, and other common tasks similar copying, renaming, moving, and deleting files or folders. File types that take identified themselves as beingness printable also have an option listed to print the file.

Underneath "Other Places" is a "Details" pane which gives additional information – typically file size and engagement, but depending on the file type, a thumbnail preview, author, prototype dimensions, or other details.

The "Folders" button on the Windows Explorer toolbar toggles betwixt the traditional tree view of folders, and the job pane. Users can get rid of the task pane or restore it using the sequence: Tools – Folder Options – General – Show Common Tasks/Use Windows Classic Folders.

Search companion [edit]

Windows Explorer'southward default Search Companion, Rover, in Windows XP

Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more engaging and friendly; the default character is a puppy named Rover (previously used in Microsoft Bob), with three other characters (Merlin the magician, Earl the surfer, and Courtney) besides bachelor. These search companions utilise the aforementioned technology as Microsoft Part'southward Role Administration, even incorporating "tricks" and sound furnishings, and they can be used as Function Administration if their files are copied into the C:\Windows\msagent\chars folder.^[14]

The search adequacy itself is fairly similar to Windows ME and Windows 2000, with one major addition: Search tin can likewise be instructed to search but files that are categorical "Documents" or "Pictures, music and video"; this characteristic is noteworthy largely because of how Windows determines what types of files can be classified under these categories. In guild to maintain a relevant list of file types, Windows Explorer connects to Microsoft and downloads a set of XML files that ascertain what these file types are. The Search Companion can exist disabled in favor of the archetype search pane used in Windows 2000 by using the Tweak UI applet from Microsoft'south PowerToys for Windows XP, or by manually editing the registry.

Image handling [edit]

Windows XP improves image preview in Explorer by offering a Filmstrip view. "Back" and "Previous" buttons facilitate navigation through the pictures, and a pair of "Rotate" buttons offering 90-degree clockwise and counter-clockwise (lossy)^{[ citation needed ]} rotation of images. Aside from the Filmstrip view manner, there is a 'Thumbnails' manner, which displays thumbnail-sized images in the folder. A Folder containing images will also prove thumbnails of 4 of the images from that folder overlaid on elevation of a large binder icon.

Web publishing [edit]

Web sites that offer image hosting services can be plugged into Windows Explorer, which the user can use to select images on their computer, and have them uploaded correctly without dealing with comparatively complex solutions involving FTP or web interfaces.^{[ citation needed ]}

Other changes [edit]

• Explorer gained the ability to sympathize the metadata of a number of types of files. For example, with images from a digital photographic camera, the Exif information tin be viewed, both in the Properties pages for the photograph itself, likewise as via optional boosted Details View columns.
• A Tile view way was added, which displays the file's icon in a larger size (48 × 48), and places the file name, descriptive type, and additional information (typically the file size for data files, and the publisher proper noun for applications) to the right.
• The Details view besides presented an additional pick called "Show in Groups" which allows the Explorer to separate its contents by headings based on the field which is used to sort the items.
• The taskbar can be locked to prevent information technology from accidentally being moved.
• Windows Explorer likewise gained the ability to fire CDs and DVD-RAM discs in Windows XP.
• Ability to create and open Zilch files chosen "compressed folders".^{[15] [16]}
• Ability to open Cabined (.cab) files.^[17]
• If a .htm or .html file is copied or moved, the accompanying _files suffix folder is copied or moved amid information technology automatically.^[eighteen]

Removed and changed features [edit]

This section needs expansion. You tin can assistance past adding to it. (December 2012)

• The sort club has inverse compared to the i in Windows 2000. For file names containing numbers Windows Explorer now tries to sort based on numerical value rather than simply comparing each number digit by digit.^[19]

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows Vista, showing Public folder contents.

Search, organizing and metadata [edit]

Windows Explorer includes meaning changes from previous versions of Windows such as improved filtering, sorting, grouping and stacking. Combined with integrated desktop search, Windows Explorer allows users to notice and organize their files in new ways, such as stacks.^{[xx] [21]} The new Stacks viewing mode groups files according to the criterion specified by the user.^[21] Stacks tin be clicked to filter the files shown in Windows Explorer. In that location is too the ability to salvage searches as virtual folders or search folders.^[22] A search folder is simply an XML file, which stores the query in a form that can be used by the Windows search subsystem.^[23] When accessed, the search is executed and the results are aggregated and presented as a virtual folder.^[22] Windows Vista includes vi search folders past default: contempo documents, contempo east-mail, contempo music, recent pictures and videos, contempo changed, and "Shared by Me".^[24] Additionally, search operators for properties were introduced, such equally kind:music. ^[25] Since at least Windows 7, comparison operators "greater than" and "less than" are supported to search for any supported attribute such as date ranges and file sizes, like size:>100MB to search for all files that are greater than 100MB.^[26] Attributes sortable and searchable in Windows Explorer include pictures' dimensions, Exif information such as aperture and exposure, video elapsing and framerate and width.^[27]

When sorting items, the sort order no longer remains consistently Ascending or Descending. Each belongings has a preferred sort direction. For example, sort by appointment defaults to descending order, every bit does size. Merely name and type default to ascending order.

Searching for files containing a given text string became problematic with Vista unless the files had been indexed. An alternative is to apply the findstr command-line function.^[28] After right-clicking on a folder 1 can open a control-line prompt in that folder.

Windows Explorer likewise contains modifications in the visualization of files on a computer. A new addition to Windows Explorer in Vista and Server 2008 is the details pane, which displays metadata and information relating to the currently selected file or folder. The details pane will also display a thumbnail of the file or an icon of the filetype if the file does not contain visual information. Furthermore, unlike imagery is overlaid on thumbnails to give more data nigh the file, such as a movie frame around the thumbnail of an prototype file, or a filmstrip on a video file.

The details pane also allows for the change of some textual metadata such as author and championship in files that back up them within Windows Explorer. A new type of metadata called tags allows users to add descriptive terms to documents for easier categorization and retrieval. Some files support open up metadata, assuasive users to define new types of metadata for their files. Out-of-the-box, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 supports Microsoft Office documents and virtually sound and video files. Support for other file types can however be added past writing specialized software to think the metadata at the shell'southward request. Metadata stored in a file'south alternate information stream only on NTFS volumes cannot be viewed and edited through the summary tab of the file's backdrop anymore. Instead, all metadata is stored inside the file, and then that information technology will e'er travel with the file and not be dependent on the file organisation.^[29]

Layout and icons [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 also introduces a new layout. The chore panes from Windows XP are replaced with a toolbar on top and a navigation pane on the left. The navigation pane contains commonly accessed folders and preconfigured search folders. Eight different views are available to view files and folders, including extra large, big, medium, small, list, details, tiles, and content. In addition, column headers now announced in all icon viewing modes,^[21] unlike Windows XP where they only appear in the details icon viewing mode.^[xx] File and folder actions such every bit cut, copy, paste, undo, redo, delete, rename and properties are built into a dropdown carte du jour which appears when the Organize push is clicked. It is also possible to change the layout of the Explorer window past using the Organize button. Users can select whether to display classic menus, a search pane, a preview pane, a reading pane, and the navigation pane. The preview pane enables users to preview files (eastward.thou., documents or media files) without opening them. If an awarding, such equally Office 2007, installs preview handlers for file types, then these files can as well be edited inside the preview pane itself.^[xxx]

Windows Vista saw the introduction of the breadcrumb bar for easier navigation. Equally opposed to the prior accost bar which displayed the current folder in a simple editable combobox, this new style structures the path into clickable levels of folder hierarchy (though falls back to the classic edit mode when a blank area is clicked), enabling the user to skip equally many levels as desired in i click rather than repeatedly clicking "Up". Information technology is besides possible to navigate to whatever subfolder of the electric current folder using the arrow to the right of the final particular. The carte bar is at present subconscious by default just reappears temporarily when the user presses Alt.

Check boxes in Windows Explorer allow the selection of multiple files.^[31] Free and used space on all drives is shown in horizontal indicator confined. Icons of various sizes are supported: 16 ten xvi, 24 x 24, 32 x 32, 48 x 48, 64 x 64, 96 x 96, 128 x 128 and 256 x 256. Windows Explorer can zoom the icons in and out using a slider or by belongings downward the Ctrl key and using the mouse scrollwheel.^[32] Alive icons tin can display the content of folders and files themselves rather than generic icons.^[33]

Other changes [edit]

With the release of Windows Vista and Server 2008 and Windows Internet Explorer seven for Windows XP, Net Explorer is no longer integrated with Windows Explorer. In Windows Vista and Server 2008 (and in Windows XP as well if IE7 or viii is installed), Windows Explorer no longer displays web pages, and IE7 does not back up use equally a file managing director, although ane will separately launch the other as necessary.

When moving or copying files from one folder to another, if two files have the same name, an pick is now bachelor to rename the file; in previous versions of Windows, the user was prompted to choose either a replacement or cancel moving the file. Also, when renaming a file, Explorer merely highlights the filename without selecting the extension. Renaming multiple files is quicker every bit pressing Tab automatically renames the existing file or folder and opens the file name text field for the adjacent file for renaming. Shift+Tab allows renaming in the same manner up.

Support for burning data on DVDs (DVD±R, DVD±R DL, DVD±R RW) in add-on to CDs and DVD-RAM using version 2.0 of the Prototype Mastering API, as well every bit Live File System support was added.^[34]

If a file is in apply by another awarding, Windows Explorer tells users to close the application and retry the file operation. Also, a new interface IFileIsInUse is introduced into the API which developers tin utilize to let other applications switch to the main window of the application that has the file open or simply close the file from the "File in Use" dialog. If the running awarding exposes these operations by means of the IFileIsInUse interface, Windows Explorer, upon encountering a locked file, allows the user to close the file or switch to the application from the dialog box itself.^[35]

Windows Vista introduced precluded support for the Media Transfer Protocol.^{[ citation needed ]}

Removed and changed features [edit]

The ability to customize the layout and buttons on the toolbars has been removed in Windows Vista's Explorer, as has the ability to add a countersign to a naught file (compressed folder). The Toolbar push in Explorer to go up one folder from the current folder has been removed (the function nonetheless exists nevertheless, 1 can move up a folder by pressing Alt + ↑). Although nonetheless fully bachelor from the menus and keyboard shortcuts, toolbar buttons for Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, Delete, Backdrop and some others are no longer bachelor. The Card Bar is as well hidden by default but is yet available by pressing the Alt key or irresolute its visibility in the layout options. Several other features are removed such every bit showing the size on the status bar without selecting items, storing metadata in NTFS alternate data streams,^[36] the IColumnProvider interface which allowed addition of custom columns to Explorer^[37] and folder background customization using desktop.ini.

The option "Managing pairs of Spider web pages and folders" is as well removed, and the user has no manner of telling Vista that a .html file and the binder with the aforementioned proper noun that was created when saving a consummate web folio from IE should be treated separately, that is, they cannot delete the folder without deleting the html file as well.^[38]

The power to correct-click a binder and hit "Search" was removed in Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Users must open the folder they wish to search in and enter their keywords in the search field located on the top right corner of the window. Alternatively, users can specify other search parameters through the "Advanced Search" UI, which can exist accessed by clicking on the Organize Bar and selecting Search Pane under the Layout submenu. Pressing F3 also opens the "Advanced Search" interface.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows 7, showing Libraries.

Libraries [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 supports libraries, virtual folders described in a .library-ms file that aggregates content from various locations – including shared folders on networked systems if the shared folder has been indexed by the host organisation – and present them in a unified view. Searching in a library automatically federates the query to the remote systems, in addition to searching on the local arrangement, so that files on the remote systems are also searched. Unlike search folders, Libraries are backed by a physical location which allows files to be saved in the libraries. Such files are transparently saved in the bankroll physical binder. The default relieve location for a library may be configured past the user, as tin can the default view layout for each library. Libraries are more often than not stored in the libraries special folder, which allows them to be displayed on the navigation pane.

By default, a new user account in Windows seven contains four libraries, for different file types: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. They are configured to include the user's contour folders for these corresponding file types, besides as the figurer's respective Public folders.

In addition to aggregating multiple storage locations, Libraries enable Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions. System Views allow users to pin their views of the library's contents based on metadata. For example, selecting the "By Month" view in the Pictures library will display photos in stacks, where each stack represents a calendar month of photos based on the appointment they were taken. In the Music library, the "By Artist" view will display stacks of albums from the artists in their collections, and browsing into an artist stack volition and then display the relevant albums.

Search Filter Suggestions are a new feature of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Explorer's search box. When the user clicks in the search box, a menu shows upwards below it showing recent searches as well as suggested Advanced Query Syntax filters that the user can type. When one is selected (or typed in manually), the menu volition update to prove the possible values to filter past for that property, and this list is based on the electric current location and other parts of the query already typed. For example, selecting the "tags" filter or typing "tags:" into the search box will brandish the list of possible tag values which will render search results.

The metadata written within the file, implemented in Vista, is too utilized in Windows 7. This tin can sometimes lead to long expect times displaying the contents of a folder. For instance, if a folder contains many large video files totaling hundreds of gigabytes, and the Window Explorer pane is in Details view mode showing a property contained within the metadata (for example Engagement, Length, Frame Summit), Windows Explorer might have to search the contents of the whole file for the meta information. Some damaged files can cause a prolonged filibuster besides. This is due to metadata information being able to exist placed anywhere within the file, beginning, center, or cease, necessitating a search of the whole file. Lengthy delays also occur when displaying the contents of a folder with many different types of program icons. The icon is contained in the metadata. Some programs cause the activation of a virus browse when retrieving the icon data from the metadata, hence producing a lengthy delay.^[29]

Organization Views and Search Filter Suggestions are database-backed features that require that all locations in the Library be indexed by the Windows Search service. Local disk locations must be indexed by the local indexer, and Windows Explorer will automatically add locations to the indexing scope when they are included in a library. Remote locations can exist indexed past the indexer on some other Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 motorcar, on a Windows machine running Windows Search 4 (such as Windows Vista or Windows Home Server), or on another device that implements the MS-WSP remote query protocol.^[39]

Federated search [edit]

Windows Explorer also supports federating search to external data sources, such every bit custom databases or web services, that are exposed over the web and described via an OpenSearch definition. The federated location description (called a Search Connector) is provided every bit a .osdx file. One time installed, the data source becomes queryable direct from Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer features, such every bit previews and thumbnails, work with the results of a federated search also.

Other changes [edit]

• Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 support showing icons in the context menu and creating cascaded context menus with static verbs in submenus using the Registry instead of a trounce extension.^[40]
• The search box in the Explorer window and the address bar can be resized.
• Certain folders in the navigation pane tin can be hidden to reduce clutter.
• Progress bars and overlay icons on an awarding'south button on the taskbar.
• Content view which shows thumbnails and metadata.
• Buttons to toggle the preview pane and create a new folder.

Removed or changed features [edit]

In Windows 7, several features take been removed from Windows Explorer, including the collapsible folder pane, overlay icon for shared items, remembering individual folder window sizes and positions, free deejay space on the status bar, icons on the control bar, ability to disable Machine Arrange and Marshal to Grid, sortable column headings in other views except details view, ability to disable full row option in details view, automated horizontal scrolling and scrollbar in the navigation pane and maintaining selection when sorting from the Edit menu.

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 [edit]

The new File Explorer with ribbon in Windows viii.

The file managing director on Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 is renamed File Explorer and introduces new features such as a redesigned interface incorporating a ribbon toolbar, and a redesigned file operation dialog that displays more than detailed progress and allows for file operations to be paused and resumed. The details pane from Windows Vista and seven was removed and replaced with a narrower pane with no icons and fewer detail columns. But other details are displayed past hovering over the file'southward name.^{[41] [42]}

Windows ten and Windows Server 2016 [edit]

The icons in File Explorer take been redesigned. They are flatter and simpler in design. The window edge padding is thinner than previous versions. Windows 10 Creators Update and after versions come up with a new Universal File Explorer (too known as the UWP File Explorer). Although subconscious, information technology can be opened by creating a shortcut pointing to "explorer shell:AppsFolder\c5e2524a-ea46-4f67-841f-6a9465d9d515_cw5n1h2txyewy!App" ^{[43] [44]}

Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 [edit]

A "dark mode" has been added to File Explorer in Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2019.^[45] The Universal File Explorer as well includes new features.^{[46] [47]}

Windows 10, version 1909 [edit]

Windows Search and OneDrive have been integrated into File Explorer's search feature in Windows 10, version 1909.^[48]

Windows 11 [edit]

In Windows 11, the File Explorer has undergone significant design revisions, with the ribbon interface introduced with Windows 8 being replaced with a new command bar. Translucency, shadows, and rounded geometry accept also been added, following the Fluent Design System.[49]          [50]          [51]          [52]          [53]        

Extensibility [edit]

File Explorer can be extended to back up non-default functionality by ways of Windows vanquish extensions, which are COM objects that plug the extended functionality into Windows Explorer.^[54] Shell extensions can exist in the grade of shell extension handlers, toolbars or even namespace extensions that allow certain folders (or even not-filesystem objects such every bit the images scanned by a scanner) to exist presented every bit a special folder. File Explorer besides allows metadata for files to be added equally NTFS alternate data streams, split from the information stream for the file.

Shell extension handlers are queried by the shell beforehand for modifying the action the crush takes. They tin be associated on a per file type – where they will prove up simply when a item action takes place on a particular file type – or on a global basis – which are always bachelor. The shell supports the post-obit extension handlers:

Handler	Clarification	Tin be implemented on	Required shell version
Context menu handler	Adds menu items to the context menu. It is called earlier the context menu is displayed.	Per file type	Windows 95 and later. Windows 7 introduced IExecuteCommand
Elevate-and-drop handler	Controls the activeness upon right-click drag and drop and modifies the context carte du jour that appears.	Global	Windows 95 and later
Drib target handler	Controls the activity afterwards a data object is dragged and dropped over a drop target such as a file.	Per file type	Windows 95 and afterwards
Data object handler	Controls the action later on a file is copied to the clipboard or dragged and dropped over a driblet target. It can provide boosted clipboard formats to the driblet target.	Per file type	Windows 95 and later
Icon handler	Assigns a custom icon to an individual file among a class of file types. Information technology is called before file icons are displayed.	Per file type	Windows 95 and afterwards
Belongings sheet handler	Replaces or adds pages to the property sail dialog box of an object.	Per file type	Windows 95 and later
Copy hook handler	Allows running, modifying or denying the action when a user or application tries to copy, move, delete, or rename an object.	Not associated with a file type	Windows 95 and after
Search handler	Allows beat integration of a custom search engine.	Not associated with a file type	Windows 95 through Windows XP
Infotip handler	Allows retrieving flags and infotip information for an particular and displaying it within a popup tooltip upon mouse hover.	Per file type	Windows Desktop Update and afterward
Thumbnail image handler	Provides for a thumbnail image to exist generated and displayed along with its alpha type when a file is selected or the thumbnail view is activated.	Per file type	Windows Desktop Update and later. Windows Vista introduced a newer IThumbnailProvider interface that too shows thumbnails in the Details pane. The older IExtractImage is nevertheless supported only not in the Details pane.[55]
Disk Cleanup handler	Add a new entry to the Disk Cleanup application and allows specifying additional disk locations or files to clean up.	Per folder	Windows 98 and afterward
Column handler	Allows creating and displaying custom columns in Windows Explorer details view. It can exist used to extend sorting and group.	Per folder	Windows 2000 and later
Icon overlay handler	Allows displaying an overlay icon over a shell object (a file or folder icon).	Per file type	Windows 2000 and later
Metadata handler	Allows viewing and modifying metadata stored in a file. It tin be used to extend details view columns, infotips, property pages, sorting and grouping.	Per file type	Windows 2000 and later
Filter handler (IFilter)	Allows file backdrop and its contents to be indexed and searched past Indexing Service or Windows Search	Per file type	Windows 2000 and after
AutoPlay handler	Examines newly discovered removable media and devices and, based on content such as pictures, music or video files, launches an appropriate application to play or display the content.	Per file type category Windows XP only: per device and per file type category	Windows XP and later
Property handler	Allows viewing and modifying arrangement-defined and custom properties of a file.	Per file type	Windows Vista and afterward; on Windows XP if Windows Search is installed.
Preview handler	Renders enhanced previews of items without launching the default application when a file is selected. Information technology can besides provide file type-specific navigation such as browsing a document, or seeking inside a media file.	Per file type	Windows Vista and later

Namespace extensions are used by Explorer and Mutual Dialogs to either display some data – which are not necessarily persisted as files – in a binder-like view or to present data in a way that is different from their organization on the file system. This characteristic tin be exploited by a whatever hierarchical data source that can be represented as a file system similar the Windows one, including Deject-based implementation. Special folders, such as My Computer and Network Places in Windows Explorer are implemented this way, as are Explorer views that let items in a mobile phone or digital photographic camera be explored. Source-control systems that employ Explorer to browse source repositories likewise use Namespace extensions to allow Explorer to browse the revisions. To implement a namespace extension, the IPersistFolder, IShellView, IShellFolder, IShellBrowser and IOleWindow interfaces need to be implemented and registered. The implementation needs to provide the logic for navigating the information store besides as describing the presentation. Windows Explorer will instantiate the COM objects as required.^[56]

While Windows Explorer natively exposes the extensibility points as COM interfaces, .NET Framework tin can as well be used to write some types of extensions, using the COM Interop functionality of .Internet Framework.^[56] While Microsoft itself makes available extensions – such equally the photo info tool^[57] – which are authored using .NET Framework, they currently recommend against writing managed beat extensions, every bit only one example of the CLR (prior to version iv.0) can be loaded per-process. This behavior will crusade conflicts if multiple managed add-ins, targeting different versions of the CLR, are attempted to exist run simultaneously.^{[58] [59]}

See also [edit]

• Comparison of file managers
• List of alternative shells for Windows

Notes and references [edit]

1. ^ "April 12, 2022—KB5012592 (Bone Build 22000.613)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. April 12, 2022.
2. ^ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22598". Windows Insider Blog. April 13, 2022.
3. ^ Lineback, Nathan. "Misc Windows". toastytech.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
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External links [edit]

• Sullivan, Kent. "The Windows 95 User Interface: A Example Written report in Usability Technology" (1996) for Association for Computing Machinery. (Sullivan was a developer on the Windows 95 UI team)
• How To Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP
• MSDN: Creating Shell Extension Handlers, Windows Dev Heart, May 31, 2018
• The Complete Idiot'southward Guide to Writing Shell Extensions, by Michal Dunn, March xv, 2006
• Namespace extensions – the undocumented Windows Shell, by Henk Devos, November 30, 1999

What Is Windows Explorer In Windows 10,

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Explorer

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