[Review] Hidden Secret “File Explorer” App in Windows 10

Today in this topic, we are going to review a hidden secret UWP (Universal Windows Platform) app present in newer versions of Windows 10.

This secret app is called “File Explorer” which has been developed to provide a substitute modern app for default Windows Explorer (This PC) program. Currently File Explorer app is under development and testing phase and the functionality is very limited and basic. Its a touch oriented app which seems like a direct port of File Explorer app present in Windows 10 Mobile.

Microsoft has not provided any shortcut to directly launch File Explorer app yet but its EXE file can be found in following location:

The above mentioned folder contains FileExplorer.exe executable file to launch File Explorer app. There are a few other files also present in the folder such as AppxManifest.xml, etc.

But you can’t directly run the app by double-clicking on the EXE file. Nothing happens if you try to run the EXE file. To launch the app, you’ll need to run following command in RUN dialog box:

Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box, copy the full string as mentioned above, paste it in RUN dialog box and press Enter.

If you want, you can create a shortcut using the above mentioned command on Desktop and pin it to Start Menu or Taskbar for quick and easier access.

PS: Alternatively, you can create a new text (.txt) file and change its extension to .c5e2524a-ea46-4f67-841f-6a9465d9d515. It’ll also launch new File Explorer app. This string is actually its filetype stored in its AppxManifest.xml file.

Once you launch File Explorer app using this command, you get following interface:

As you can see, it shows drives and user folders along with a Navigation Pane in left-side and a Status Bar at the bottom. There are no toolbar buttons present except the “Up” button. Also it doesn’t contain Ribbon UI at the moment.

You can change the file/folder sorting to name, size or date:

Using the status bar buttons, you can select multiple items, create new folder, change folder view, launch Search bar and access a few options such as Refresh, Select All and Properties.

If you resize the window and decrease its size, the left-side navigation pane converts into a tiny vertical bar which contains icons and a Hamburger menu to expand the navigation pane.

You can also right-click on items and it shows basic options such as Delete, Move to, Copy to, Rename and Properties in the context menu.

The File Explorer app also follows the system-wide app color settings. If you change the modern app color mode to “Dark” using Settings app -> Personalization -> Colors -> Choose your default app mode as mentioned here, the File Explorer app also starts using Dark theme mode which will please Dark or Black UI lovers.

So we can see the File Explorer app is not yet fully functional and a lot of work needs to be done to make it a substitute app for Windows Explorer program. We may see more features and improvements in this app in future Windows 10 versions. Let’s wait for the next Windows 10 version which will arrive in September 2017 most probably.

PS: You can also check out following exclusive video to watch the “File Explorer” app live in action in Windows 10: