How to enable tabs in File Explorer in Windows 11

Windows 11 Build 22572 was released yesterday for the Insider Preview program. It brought a couple of additional default apps. But there was also something else, a change that was not announced in the official changelog, Tabs in File Explorer.

Let’s hope he does better than Sets. The built-in file manager that comes with Windows is perhaps one of the most used tools in the operating system. Despite its popularity, the app has hardly any features in terms of multitasking. Notepad, for example, was recently updated with modern features, and we’ve seen Task Manager get a new interface. Surely File Explorer deserves similar treatment, right?

There have been minor changes to the Explorer menu, but that doesn’t really change the overall experience. The only way around the program’s multitasking limitations is to open new instances and use them to transfer files from one folder or drive to another. Using Snap Assist in Windows 11 also makes things easier. But the introduction of tabs in File Explorer could make a big difference in the way users manage their files and folders.

How to enable tabs in File Explorer in Windows 11

1. Download the ViveTool program. It is a free open source utility and is portable.

2. Open a PowerShell or Terminal window with administrator rights.

3. Paste the following code in the window.

vivetool addconfig 34370472 2

Note: If that command doesn’t work, try adding . before that.

.vivetool addconfig 34370472 2

4. Reboot the computer to apply the changes.

5. Open File Explorer and you should see the tab bar at the top of its interface.

To undo changes, use the delconfig command in vivetool.

vivetool addconfig 34370472 2

credit: Xenon by the tip

Tabs in File Explorer: A Brief Overview

File Explorer’s tab bar layout resembles a browser’s tab bar, also known as the one in Microsoft Edge. Click the + menu to open a new tab and Explorer should immediately jump to the new tab you opened. All tabs work like a normal Explorer window, so you can use them to view any folder and perform your usual actions.

The new tab bar in File Explorer doesn’t have a context menu, hopefully it will come in a future update. The biggest limitation of the tab bar is that it doesn’t allow you to rearrange the tabs. That and the fact that you can’t copy or move files by dragging and dropping them between tabs. However, regular file operations such as cut, copy, and paste options are supported, so you can use the shell menu or hotkeys, for example, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V, to move your data between the directories you opened. using tabs.

You can close tabs by clicking the X button or using the middle mouse button while the cursor is over a tab. Tabs in File Explorer seem pretty basic now, but considering it’s an unannounced feature that’s probably still being tested internally, that’s perfectly understandable. Don’t let that stop you from trying it.

If you are looking for free alternatives to File Explorer, there are plenty to choose from such as File Voyager, File Commander, Files, Sigma to name a few.

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