Solved How to change File Explorer behavior on the Taskbar

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

In a previous installation, whenever I clicked the File Explorer icon on the task bar, a new instance of file explorer would open. Now, if a file explorer window is already open, clicking the task bar icon just changes focus to the running instance. This is a royal pain in the tuckus for simple operations like dragging files from one folder to another. Although I can right click on the icon and select File Explorer, old habits die hard and this is an inconvenience.

How can I revert that behavior?

Sir_George · Dec 30, 2023

kiwiaz said:
In a previous installation, whenever I clicked the File Explorer icon on the task bar, a new instance of file explorer would open. Now, if a file explorer window is already open, clicking the task bar icon just changes focus to the running instance. This is a royal pain in the tuckus for simple operations like dragging files from one folder to another. Although I can right click on the icon and select File Explorer, old habits die hard and this is an inconvenience.

How can I revert that behavior?

I don't have a direct answer on how to revert the behavior, but a 3rd party replacement for file explorer "Files App" has dual pane functionality. If you would like more details about the app, visit the link below.

Files • Home

Building the best file manager for Windows.

files.community

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

Sir_George said:
I don't have a direct answer on how to revert the behavior, but a 3rd party replacement for file explorer "Files App" has dual pane functionality. If you would like more details about the app, visit the link below.

Files • Home

Building the best file manager for Windows.

files.community

Thanks @Sir_George
Besides dual pane mode, what benefits does "Files" confer to distinguish itself from the default explorer? For example, I looked at Replace File Explorer, but I didn't really find an explanation of extra functions.

Sir_George · Dec 30, 2023

kiwiaz said:
Thanks @Sir_George
Besides dual pane mode, what benefits does "Files" confer to distinguish itself from the default explorer? For example, I looked at Replace File Explorer, but I didn't really find an explanation of extra functions.

Rather than me trying to explain the benefits, visit the link below for a more in depth review.

Spunk · Dec 30, 2023

If you have the new File Explorer open and want another file explorer window open, you can click the + sign above the address bar to the right to open a New Tab.
Or you can Right click the File Explorer Icon in the task bar and select File Explorer to have 2 separate File Explorer Windows open.

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

@Spunk

The +tab was one I hadn't considered. Thanks for that. Why didn't I do that years ago? :fpalm

glasskuter · Dec 30, 2023

You didn't do that years ago because explorer didn't have tabs then. Over the years I've gotten so accustomed to working in 2 instances of explorer I still do it because I forget about tabs. I open a second instance of explorer with Win+E keys. Then I use snap to have the windows side by side. It's hard to break old habits, I guess.