Rumored... Windows File Explorer will tie into OneDrive, Microsoft 365

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

Rumored overhaul for Windows File Explorer would tie into OneDrive, Microsoft 365

Microsoft added tabs to Explorer recently, but this redesign goes further.

arstechnica.com

Microsoft is working on an overhaul of the File Explorer app in Windows 11, according to a report from Windows Central. The new Explorer will reportedly feature redesigned and more touch-friendly navigation, better photo viewing with larger previews, keyword and color tagging for organizing files, and tighter integration with Microsoft 365 and OneDrive.

An internal mock-up of the new interface shows a new "recommended" section of files alongside the existing areas for pinned and recent files, with large previews of various documents and information about where the files are located (OneDrive, SharePoint, and the local Downloads folder are all listed) and about recent changes. The new look will also come with "more modern code" under the hood.

The report says Microsoft wants to release the new Explorer before the end of the year. It could be part of this year's annual Windows update in the fall, but Microsoft has taken a "whenever they're ready" approach to releasing new Windows features in the Windows 11 era—it could be released at any time, or never.

Let's hope this is just a rumor and that wiser heads will prevail. If this actually happens... it's gonna be a... mess.

computer_user · Jan 26, 2023

Sounds good to me, no bugs plz !

TVeblen · Jan 26, 2023

Uuuggghhh.
I guess we better start looking at how to restore the old File Explorer just to be ready.

Why does everything have to be designed for phones only? Is it really that hard to have two versions: one for PC and one for phones?
It's bad enough everything keeps getting bigger, uglier, cartoonish, and blocky.

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

TVeblen said:
I guess we better start looking at how to restore the old File Explorer just to be ready.

Stigg · Jan 26, 2023

Find yourselves a good third party file manager, and stick with it.

Edwin · Jan 26, 2023

And you thought the Recommended section in the Start Menu was a p-i-t-a?????

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

Stigg said:
Find yourselves a good third party file manager, and stick with it.

File Explorer is the heart of Windows.
I hope I don't have the break out my Win 7 DVD, one of these days. :/

Dru2 · Jan 26, 2023

Oh, geez, I can see a plethora of posts showing up with "how do I remove Windows Explorer. I don't trust OneDrive"

Stigg · Jan 26, 2023

Ghot said:
File Explorer is the heart of Windows.
I hope I don't have the break out my Win 7 DVD, one of these days. :/

I'm not saying to remove File Explorer. You wouldn't do that.

I just suggested to use an alternative file manager if it doesn't suit you.

I'm a long time user of Directory Opus. I'd be lost without it.

Berton · Jan 26, 2023

I use Total Commander on a couple of computers and the 'old' File Manager from Win3.x of the '90s works on 64-bit Win11, FAT32, NTFS drives and NAS drives.

MisterEd · Jan 26, 2023

I don't use One Drive so as long as File Explorer works without it I don't care. I just hope they don't bloat the GUI so it is cumbersome to use on a laptops small display.

I just wish they would fix Paint. They butchered it so you can't collapse the toolbar like you can in the Windows 10 version. That is also a real pain on a laptops small display.

Subscriber43 · Jan 26, 2023

Wow. The torches and pitchforks are out in force today...

MisterEd · Jan 26, 2023

Subscriber43 said:
Wow. The torches and pitchforks are out in force today...

You know that all this would unnecessary if Microsoft stopped trying to fix Windows 11 by adding unnecessary and unwanted bloat to it. I guess Microsoft has a lot of scared programmers trying to justify their jobs. They probably didn't want to be one 10,000 Microsoft just laid off.

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

Subscriber43 said:
Wow. The torches and pitchforks are out in force today...

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

MisterEd said:
I don't use One Drive so as long as File Explorer works without it I don't care. I just hope they don't bloat the GUI so it is cumbersome to use on a laptops small display.

I just wish they would fix Paint. They butchered it so you can't collapse the toolbar like you can in the Windows 10 version. That is also a real pain on a laptops small display.

MS Paint from Win 10, Win 7 and Win XP...

All three scan clean locally and at Virustotal. https://winaero.com/download-classic-paint-windows-10/ Download the ZIP... https://archive.org/details/MSPaintWin7 Download the EXE... https://archive.org/details/mspaint_xp_version I'd imagine you'll have to block any of these in your...

www.elevenforum.com

idgat · Jan 26, 2023

Couldn't care less, both abyssmal abominations, deficient in user control and/or requirements.

Uninstall (not just disable) OneDrive as part of any setup of Windows, and delete all icons for File/Windows Explorer in favour of Xplorer2 (in paid versions, can opt to replace Explorer for all functions).

Ghot · Jan 26, 2023

idgat said:
Uninstall (not just disable) OneDrive as part of any setup of Windows

MisterEd · Jan 26, 2023

I don't care if Microsoft wants to include OneDrive with Windows 10 and 11. I just hate that Windows installs it without asking you if you want it or not.

The first time I tried to remove OneDrive I lost some files. Fortunately, I had a backup of these files. I then went online and found the correct steps to remove OneDrive. After that I was able to remove OneDrive safely.

BTW, Windows has an annoyance that even after you remove OneDrive, OneDrive is still available as an option for SaveAs. I just checked and found a file in OneDrive\Desktop. I must accidentally place it there by mistake. That is a real gotcha because without OneDrive active you might end up with two differnent copies of the same file.

If Microsoft wants to include OneDrive they need to include a simple tool to remove it safely without losing any files. A lot of people would welcome that.