Files App. Not free??

swerd · Dec 27, 2022

Hi everyone,

I am keen to have a look at Files App on Windows, but on the Microsoft Store, it says you have to pay. Everywhere I look it says it's free. Is this right??

TIA for any help.

DigitalGoat · Dec 27, 2022

swerd said:
Hi everyone,

I am keen to have a look at Files App on Windows, but on the Microsoft Store, it says you have to pay. Everywhere I look it says it's free. Is this right??

TIA for any help.

If you read the info it tells you it is free except through the MS Store where the cost goes to support the developers. Go to the listed developer site to download the free version.

swerd · Dec 27, 2022

DigitalGoat said:
If you read the info it tells you it is free except through the MS Store where the cost goes to support the developers. Go to the listed developer site to download the free version.

Thanks. Didn't see that.

cereberus · Dec 27, 2022

DigitalGoat said:
If you read the info it tells you it is free except through the MS Store where the cost goes to support the developers. Go to the listed developer site to download the free version.

Ughh - this is an awful precedent.

Either the software is free or it is not.

We have no idea about what percentage goes to developers!

I used to buy charity XMAS cards until I found the charities only got a tiny percentage - I now donate directly.

I would have less of an issue if MS came clean about their cut.

Even wikapedia are more honest with their request for funds - you are not forced to pay.

DigitalGoat · Dec 27, 2022

I see nothing wrong with this, MS are not forcing the devs to charge, the devs are allowing the app to be sold to help thier dev costs. You can find out how much of a cut MS takes, they recently introduced a tiered system but I believe the max is now 15% or 20%.

SlicEnDicE · Dec 27, 2022

Yeah, MS takes 15% atm.

Clarification (quote from the MS developer agreement):

6b. Store Fees. If your App uses the Microsoft commerce engine to support purchase of the App or any In-App Purchases within the App, the Store Fee (plus any taxes 15 due in connection with the payment of such Store Fee, if applicable) you owe to Microsoft will be deducted from Net Receipts to calculate the App Proceeds payable to you in accordance with this Section 6. The Store Fee is:

i. Fifteen percent (15%) of Net Receipts for any Apps (and any In -App Products in such Apps, including) that are not listed in Section 6(b)(iii) below.

ii. For all Net Receipts generated on or after August 1, 2021: Twelve percent (12%) of Net Receipts for any Games (and any in-App Products in such Games) that are not listed in Section 6(b)(iii).

iii. Thirty percent (30%) of Net Receipts for:
1. all Xbox console Apps made available in the Microsoft Store and billed to Customers on a non-subscription basis;
2. all Xbox console Games made available in the Microsoft Store
3. all In-App Products acquired on a non-subscription basis by Customers in the Microsoft Store on an Xbox console and
4. all Apps and In-App Products acquired by Customers in the Microsoft Store on Windows 8 devices; or Microsoft Store on Windows Phone 8 devices.

Source: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4YJB0

Sir_George · Dec 27, 2022

swerd said:
Thanks. Didn't see that.

I tried Files app for a brief period of time and was disappointed in the performance. Before installing, a brief visit to the following site will provide some very useful information along with a download link, ignore the MS Store link to get the free version.

This Windows file explorer app is about to get a big update

The popular third-party file explorer Files has a major update in the works.

www.windowscentral.com

johnlgalt · Dec 27, 2022

I've used it as a secondary file manager, and it was buggy for a while for sure, but it finally has gottena lot of things right. I prefer to use it in dual pane mode, and it was not keeping that mode until recently.

It has a lot of good features, but is still basic compared to more mature file managers like OneCommander (my new go to FM), TotalCommander, Xplorer², and more. But it does a great job with modern UI elements, as does OneCommander.

glasskuter · Dec 27, 2022

I've found explorer++ to be a good replacement for file explorer. You can check it out since it's a standalone app with no install. I put mine at the root of C and made a shortcut to the executable. There's a lot of screenshots. Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows