Open in New Tab (Always) - File Explorer?

dacrone · Oct 8, 2022

Is there a setting that anyone has found to always open a new folder in a new tab instead of a separate file explorer window... for the BUILT-IN explorer tabs? Would me much appreciative if so. Thanks.

Edwin · Oct 8, 2022

dacrone said:
Is there a setting that anyone has found to always open a new folder in a new tab instead of a separate file explorer window... for the BUILT-IN explorer tabs?

Try middle-click.

cereberus · Oct 8, 2022

dacrone said:
Is there a setting that anyone has found to always open a new folder in a new tab instead of a separate file explorer window... for the BUILT-IN explorer tabs? Would me much appreciative if so. Thanks.

I do not understand your query. Are you saying you would like to click on the file explore link

and it opens to a new tab in an existing file explorer instance rather than opening a new instance of file explorer (which is the action)?

dacrone · Oct 8, 2022

What I am asking is, if I have one File Explorer window already open and let's say I minimize that window and I (example) go to my Desktop and launch a folder from there (not through the already open File Explorer window)... can that open in a new tab inside of the already opened File Explorer window instead of launching a new window...

Edwin · Oct 8, 2022

dacrone said:
... open in a new tab inside of the already opened File Explorer window...

Right click menu have anything that works?

dacrone · Oct 8, 2022

prob but thats not what i'm looking for. want the default action for launching a new window.. as in double click to be open in new tab

cereberus · Oct 8, 2022

dacrone said:
What I am asking is, if I have one File Explorer window already open and let's say I minimize that window and I (example) go to my Desktop and launch a folder from there (not through the already open File Explorer window)... can that open in a new tab inside of the already opened File Explorer window instead of launching a new window...

More or less what I asked. I know no wayof opening a new tab except from inside an open file explorer instance.

Browsers are the same but in Edge (no ideas of others), you can drag a tag from one instance to another (and drag a tab to a new instance).

Unfortunately FE does not have that which would allow you to do what you want albeit in two steps.

A clunky work around would be to open new instance and copy file path to new tab in first instance.

dacrone · Oct 8, 2022

ok. i'll wait for someone or something to come up with a solution that meets what i am looking for. thanks.

Edwin · Oct 8, 2022

dacrone said:
i'll wait for someone or something to come up with a solution

QTTabBar!!!

Leven · Dec 20, 2022

I would also like to find a way to have File Explorer default to a new tab (when it is already open), rather than a new window.

I have been waiting patiently for years for the tabs feature to be added by MS, and have resisted using a third party app such as QTTabBar, as I just have a feeling there will be shortcomings in having a third party app for something integral like this in the OS. (btw, can QTTabBar actually do this or was this a joke?).

It has taken a little time getting use to the new tab feature (after having developed set ways within Windows for the last 30 years), but even when remembering to open new tabs, one still ends up with multiple FE windows being open - one example is when inserting a flash drive, it will auto open into a new File Explorer window, even if you have an existing instance already open with several tabs. It just becomes a little messy.

..... and yes, I have found myself manually merging multiple FE windows, into a single window with multiple tabs - a little cumbersome doing this however.

So, I am guessing such a feature (providing the functionality exists in the current builds, will be implemented via a registry 'hack'.

cereberus · Dec 20, 2022

Leven said:
I would also like to find a way to have File Explorer default to a new tab (when it is already open), rather than a new window.

I have been waiting patiently for years for the tabs feature to be added by MS, and have resisted using a third party app such as QTTabBar, as I just have a feeling there will be shortcomings in having a third party app for something integral like this in the OS. (btw, can QTTabBar actually do this or was this a joke?).

It has taken a little time getting use to the new tab feature (after having developed set ways within Windows for the last 30 years), but even when remembering to open new tabs, one still ends up with multiple FE windows being open - one example is when inserting a flash drive, it will auto open into a new File Explorer window, even if you have an existing instance already open with several tabs. It just becomes a little messy.

..... and yes, I have found myself manually merging multiple FE windows, into a single window with multiple tabs - a little cumbersome doing this however.

So, I am guessing such a feature (providing the functionality exists in the current builds, will be implemented via a registry 'hack'.

Use Feedback Hub, post link so people can upvote.

kleajmp · Mar 23, 2023

Windows (power user) development is the joke. After asking for more than 8 years for tabs in FileExplorer we finally got some basic implementation. Just take a look at QTabbar Microsoft, integrate its functionality natively in explorer and you will reach the next step. I guess I will come back and see in 8 years you will maybe have implemented one of the following widely requested features:

Code:

auto save the open tabs after closing the explorer.exe process

add an option to pin a tab (like My Computer) to use as a starting tab to open new tabs (shortcut: doubleclick on tab), the pinned tabs should only show an icon like in Firefox, Chrome, Edge, ...

add an option to lock a tab (for the same reason as described in above request, same shortcut, just a double click)

make some extra mouse events on tabs:

double click a tab should lock the tab (not navigating inside it but open new tab when clicking inside)

middle click on tab should close the tab (I think already there)

right click should show a lot more options like: (copy path, duplicate tab, lock tab, save to bookmarks, ...)

middle click in empty tab space (next to last open tab) should open "file explorer options" where should be a new tab called "tabs" with new options like tab keyboard shortcuts and default tab behaviours...

add a setting to open favourite paths in a new tab by assigning a keyboard shortcuts (like D:\OneDrive to ctrl+alt+O, C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar to crrl+alt+T, ...)

add back the add Create New Folder icon directly (without clicking on New... firstly... annoying extra click it is now)

And really a lot of more features this tabs can enrich Win11, please inspire yourself by the best FileExplorer extension for tabs ever made: QTabar (just include this functionality natively and Windows FileExplorer would really become a very useful tool.)

Please Microsoft, you can do it! Pro users will start to love you again.

Please other users, tell us what you think of this future extra functionality? Maybe, maybe, ever, if we also hear your votes... Microsoft will ever consider, like they did after 10 years of users begging for tabs, this great new FileExplorer tab extras.

Just some requests I posted into some various fora...
Please let me know if they will be picked up some day :wink:

Brink · Mar 23, 2023

Hello,

Here are some more options:

Open and Close Tabs in File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will help show you different ways to open and close tabs in File Explorer for your account in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 25136 and build 22621.160, the title bar of File Explorer now has tabs to help you work across multiple locations at the same time. Starting...

www.elevenforum.com

Edwin · Mar 23, 2023

kleajmp said:
Please let me know if they will be picked up some day

Not by MS, screw that! We wanna keep QTTabBar our own little secret!!!

Edwin · Mar 24, 2023

kleajmp said:
... we finally got some basic implementation...

I don't think MS will ever make any part of the OS, or any application, for that matter, that elaborate, ever!

QTTabBar is tops in my book..., Q-Dir comes close in flexibility!

dacrone · Sep 4, 2023

GitHub - tariibaba/WinENFET: Make Win + E hotkey open a new File Explorer tab instead of a new window

Make Win + E hotkey open a new File Explorer tab instead of a new window - GitHub - tariibaba/WinENFET: Make Win + E hotkey open a new File Explorer tab instead of a new window

github.com

necrobump: this does it with Win+E.. if anyone wants to try and code something off of that to launch all new instances in a new tab

w4po · Nov 29, 2023

I've created a utility that forces open tabs instead of a new window: Explorer Tab Utility

dacrone · Nov 29, 2023

i've tried all 3 releases. new explorer window launches, flickers and then still opens in its own window. have restarted explorer, ran tab utility as Admin..
Win 11 23h2

w4po · Nov 29, 2023

dacrone said:
i've tried all 3 releases. new explorer window launches, flickers and then still opens in its own window. have restarted explorer, ran tab utility as Admin..
Win 11 23h2

I am sorry that you've run into a problem, let me install a fresh Windows 11 23h2 release version,
I haven't tested it on other devices. mine is a preview version,
I'll be back soon.

w4po · Nov 29, 2023

@dacrone I've just installed a fresh Windows 11 and tried the tool, it works just fine.
Are you sure that you've ticked the "All Windows" option from the tray icon menu? It's disabled by default.

If so, please share a video or gif image.