If you make use of an abnormal number of tabs on your browser (which you definitely shouldn’t), then you’d realize how handy tabs can be. If you’re a Windows user, you might be surprised the same feature is now available in your File explorer as well—at least for Windows 11.
Introduced back in a Windows 11 build, the File Explorer tabs will help you quickly switch between your tasks with a few clicks of your cursor.
How to enable tabs on File Explorer
File Explorer is one of the most useful GUIs on a Windows computer. It makes things easy to navigate and helps you easily manage your files and folders. And if you’re a Windows 11 user, then you are in luck, as back in 2022 Microsoft came out with a new update for File Explorer tabs—in Windows 11 Insider build 25136.
With the launch of the new release, you can open multiple tabs in a single File Explorer window on your PC. If you have kept your PC updated, then the new tab feature should be enabled by default. But if you haven’t, then follow the steps below:
- Head to the Settings menu on your Windows.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Now select the Check for updates button to download the feature drop that enables File Explorer tabs.
- Click on Restart now button.
Now, wait for the download to finish. Once the installation is complete, multiple tabs will be enabled on File Explorer from here on.
We also have a simple, no-filler video that takes you through a step-by-step explanation of using your File explorer tabs on Windows 11; don’t hesitate to take a quick look if anything looks confusing about tabs!
Enable File Explorer tabs on your Windows 10
While there’s no in-built method to enable File Explorer tabs on Windows 10, alternate methods exist. One of the popular methods to enable File Explorer on your Windows 10 is XYplorer.
XYplorer is an old player which has been in the market of Windows file managers for a while. Apart from File Explorer tabs, it offers a pack of other handy features like a preview option, tabbed browsing, a powerful file search, a super customizable interface, etc.
XYplorer is available for a 30-day free trial, and you can purchase the complete app for $39.95. You can download the XYplorer from the official website, install it, and enable the tabs feature on our Widows 10 File Explorer as well.
Enabling the File Explorer tab on Windows PC
For most of us, using multiple tabs on our PC is an inevitable part of being a Windows user. While we enjoy the feature from our browsers, Windows File Explorer didn’t use to offer any such feature by default. However, starting with Windows 11 Build 25136, Microsoft has changed that forever. While it’s still not possible to have the tabs feature on Windows 10 through the official Windows way, you can use third-party apps like XYplorer that will give you a similar experience.
