Tillie Doyle
Windows Explorer defaults to a simple view of files on your machine, but you can change the way files are displayed in Windows Explorer. In the File Explorer window, click the 'View' tab. From the drop-down menu, select Extra large icons, Large icons, Medium Icons, Small icons, List, Details, Tiles, or Content to change to the view you want to see. You can also enable different panes to make the most of your user experience, including the Preview pane, the Details pane, and the Navigation pane.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| File Explorer default view | Files as icons, some files are hidden |
| File Explorer options | Details, Preview, Navigation pane, Large icons, Extra large icons, Medium icons, Small icons, List, Tiles, Content |
| Details view options | Size, type, date modified, creation date, author |
| Navigation pane | Quick jump to different locations on your computer |
| Quick access area | Frequently used folders |
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What You'll Learn
Enabling the Preview pane
The Preview pane in Windows Explorer allows you to preview the contents of certain types of files, such as text, images, and videos, without having to open them. This feature is available in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here is a step-by-step guide to enabling the Preview pane:
- Open File Explorer. You can do this by right-clicking on the Windows Start menu and selecting File Explorer, or by holding down the Windows Key and typing "E".
- Once File Explorer is open, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon at the top of the window.
- In the Panes section of the View tab, you will find the Preview Pane button. Click on this button to enable the Preview pane.
- The Preview pane will now appear on the right side of the File Explorer window.
- To preview a file, simply select it, and the Preview pane will display its contents.
You can also enable and disable the Preview pane using a keyboard shortcut. Press "Alt + P" to toggle between enabling and disabling the pane.
In addition to the Preview pane, Windows Explorer offers other panes that can enhance your user experience, such as the Navigation pane and the Details pane. The Navigation pane, enabled by default, allows you to quickly navigate to different locations on your computer. The Details pane provides additional information about each file, such as its size, creation date, and last modified date.
By utilising these panes, you can efficiently manage and interact with your files in Windows Explorer.
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Enabling the Details pane
The Details pane in File Explorer (formerly known as Windows Explorer in Windows versions prior to 8) is a sidebar that displays metadata about the selected file. When enabled, it appears on the right side of the File Explorer window, allowing users to access specific properties with just one click. The data shown in this pane varies from file to file. For instance, for pictures, you will see more data, whereas for PDF files, you will see less data.
To enable the Details pane, open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E, clicking the File Explorer icon in the taskbar, or searching for it in the Start menu. Once File Explorer is open, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon and select the "Details Pane" option from the Panes section. Alternatively, you can press Alt + Shift + P on your keyboard to enable the Details pane.
You can also customize the Details pane to ensure you only see the most relevant file information. You can remove unnecessary details and add certain metadata fields that don't automatically appear when you enable the sidebar. This can be done by using the Registry Editor, which allows you to manipulate how Windows behaves at a system level. To open the Registry Editor, press the Windows key + R or find it in the Start menu. Then, type "regedit" and hit Enter. On the left pane of the Registry Editor, follow this path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\[.file extension]. Replace [.file extension] with the file type you want to customize, such as .jpg for images or .docx for Word documents.
It is important to note that editing the registry is an advanced process that can cause serious system issues if done incorrectly. If you are new to the Registry Editor, it is recommended to back up the registry or create a restore point before making any changes.
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Navigation pane
The Navigation pane in Windows Explorer is shown by default on the left side of the window. It allows users to quickly jump to different locations on their computer. While it is not recommended, it is possible to disable the Navigation pane. To do so, open File Explorer, click on the View tab in the ribbon, and then click on Navigation Pane in the Panes section.
You can also turn the display of the Navigation Pane on or off by using the Display Navigation Pane check box in the Access Options dialog box. If you use the RunMenuCommand macro action with the WindowHide argument, it will hide the Navigation Pane regardless of whether the "Display Navigation Pane" check box is selected or cleared.
In addition to enabling or disabling the Navigation pane, you can also customize it. For example, you can add new categories and items, remove existing ones, and rearrange the order of items. However, the Navigation pane itself is not very customizable. While you can modify the categories and items within the pane, the actual content and organization of the pane cannot be directly controlled.
To add a new category, right-click on the top of the Navigation pane and select "Navigation Options." In the Navigation Options dialog box, under the Categories list, click "Add Item." Create a name for the new category and press enter. You can also use macro actions to control the Navigation pane, such as the SetDisplayedCategories action to show or hide a category, or the LockNavigationPane action to prevent users from accidentally adding, moving, or deleting items.
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Changing the view
Windows Explorer (also known as File Explorer in Windows 8 and later) allows you to change the viewing pane in several ways. Here are the steps to change the view:
- Open File Explorer: Right-click on the Windows Start menu and select File Explorer, or hold down the Windows Key and type E.
- Change the view: Click on the View tab in the menu bar at the top of the window. Select your preferred view option from the drop-down menu. The options include Extra large icons, Large icons, Medium Icons, Small icons, List, Details, Tiles, or Content. If you are unsure, it is recommended to select the Details option, which displays information such as the size, type, and date modified in columns.
- Apply the changes: Click Apply to save the new settings. If you want to set these defaults for all folders of the same type, click "Apply to Folders".
- Enable additional panes: File Explorer offers different panes to enhance your user experience. These include the Navigation pane, Preview pane, and Details pane. To enable or disable these panes, click on the View tab and select the desired pane from the Panes section. For example, the Preview pane allows you to preview the contents of certain file types, such as images, text, or videos.
By following these steps, you can customise the viewing pane in Windows Explorer to suit your preferences and requirements.
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Displaying additional file details
Windows File Explorer defaults to a simple view of files on your machine. This view shows files as icons and hides some files from you, which can be a security issue. You can change the default view in File Explorer to display additional file details.
Firstly, open File Explorer. To do so, press the Windows key + E, click the File Explorer icon in the taskbar, or search for it in the Start menu.
To enable the Details pane, press Alt + Shift + P, or click the View tab in the ribbon and select the Details pane option. The Details pane should appear on the right side of the window. When you select a file or folder, it will show various file data. The Details pane is a sidebar in Windows File Explorer that displays properties (metadata) about the selected file. The metadata that can be found in this pane varies by file type, so it may include information on file size, dimensions, date modified, author, etc.
When customizing the Details pane in File Explorer, you can ensure you only see the most relevant file information for your workflow. You can remove the appearance of details you don’t need and add certain metadata fields that don’t automatically show when you enable the sidebar.
You can also enable a Preview pane that is shown on the right side of the window. You can use it to preview the contents of certain types of files. For example, if you select an image file in File Explorer, you can see a preview of it; if you select a text file, you can preview its contents. You can see previews of only certain file types: text, images, and videos. To enable the Preview pane, click the View tab in the File Explorer window. In the Panes section, click the Preview Pane button. To disable the Preview pane, just follow the preceding steps.
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Frequently asked questions
In the File Explorer window, click the "View" tab. From the drop-down menu, select your preferred view.
Your options include Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, List, Details, Tiles, or Content.
You can select the Details option and then click on the "Details Pane" to view more information about each file.
The Details pane can show information such as the file's size, the date it was created, and the date it was last modified.
In the File Explorer window, click the "View" tab. In the Panes section, click the "Preview Pane" button. The Preview pane will appear on the right side of the window.
