Microsoft reveals Windows 11’s new modern File Explorer UI
Microsoft has revealed a brief-look at a modern interface for the legacy File Explorer app that will be shipping as part of Windows 11 this fall. The new File Explorer appears to be the old one with a modern UI on top, and it looks fantastic.
The new UI looks to be based on WinUI, and features a clean and simplistic interface along the top of the explorer. Gone is the dated Ribbon UI interface that was introduced with Windows 8, and replacing it is a modern acrylic header with minimal buttons. It’s a much cleaner looking interface, and perhaps less daunting to the average user too.
Annoyingly, the brief look really doesn’t focus on the File Explorer itself, so we can only pull from a few frames.
On the left is a “New Item” button that likely provides quick access to creating a new folder or file. Alongside that are a bunch of icons that appear to resemble common tasks such as rename, copy, paste, delete, and share. Microsoft appears to be relying heavily on imagery instead of text with this new design.
The new File Explorer also includes modern context menus, which look much cleaner and less cluttered than the old context menus. We’ll have more to share about the new File Explorer design once Microsoft releases a preview build, sometime next week.
In the meantime, what are your thoughts on what we’ve seen of the new File Explorer UI so far? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out the rest of our Windows 11 coverage too.
Windows 11: Release date, price, and everything you need to know
Microsoft’s current version of Windows on the market is Windows 10, which would imply that one day a Windows 11 could launch, right? Microsoft is expected to ship a large update for Windows later this year, codenamed Sun Valley, that is said to bring with it a brand new user experience with a new Start menu, sounds, iconography, and much more.
What is the launch date for Windows 11?
Microsoft has announced Windows 11 today. But when can you get it? There are two answers as Windows Insiders can start testing it very soon, while the general release is later this year. Here is what you need to know.
