Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is the file manager used by Windows 95 and later versions. It allows users to manage files, folders and network connections, as well as search for files and related components. Windows Explorer has also grown to support new features unrelated to file management such as playing audio and videos and launching programs, etc. The desktop and the taskbar also form part of Windows Explorer. The look, feel and functionalities of Windows Explorer have been enhanced with each version of Windows.

Starting with Windows 8.0, Windows Explorer has been called File Explorer.

Windows Explorer replaced the programs File Manager and Program Manager that were used before Windows 95. In addition to file management, Windows Explorer also provides shell services as well as manages the desktop, the Start menu and the taskbar.

Windows Explorer should not be confused with Internet Explorer. The former is a file browser, whereas the latter is a Web browser. There are different ways to run Windows Explorer: one is by holding down the Windows button on the keyboard (the button with the Windows logo) and then pressing the “E” key. Another way is by clicking the Start menu and then “Run” and then typing in “explorer” in the dialog box that appears.

Starting with Windows 8, the Ribbon interface was introduced to Windows Explorer, now called File Explorer. This feature provides users with all the commands needed for file access and file management.

Where is Windows Explorer?

Windows Explorer is everywhere – yet finding Windows Explorer on the Start Menu is actually fairly difficult. We look at where Windows Explorer is, and some of the many other ways you can get to it.

Windows Explorer is both the hardest to find, and the easiest to find program there is. There are several ways to get it, and all of them are really, really easy.

First, the “expected” location:

• Start menu
• All Programs item
• Accessories sub-menu
• Windows Explorer menu item

Not obvious, but that’s typically where you’ll find it.

And for what it’s worth, I never, ever, use that location.

Here are some of the other ways you can get to Windows Explorer, most of them much easier than that:

• If your keyboard has a “Windows Key”, then Windows+E brings up Windows Explorer.
• Right click on My Computer, and click on Explore.
• Folder with what?Click on Start, then Run, and enter in a folder name, like “C:”, and click OK – that will open up Windows Explorer (without the left hand navigation pane) on that folder.
• Click on Start, then Run, and enter in “explorer /e,c:folder” where “c:folder” is replaced with the folder you want to view. This is roughly the same as the previous point, except that the left hand navigation pane is visible.