Working with the File Explorer in Windows 10 - University Information Services (2024)

File/Folder View	What is looks like	Description
Tiles		Shows icons of each item. Files also show file type and file size.
Details		Lists and shows information about your files and folders. In this view, folders show date last modified; files also show file type, file size, and date created.
List		Shows you the file or folder name and its associated icon.
Small icons		Virtually the same as the List view.
Medium icons		Virtually the same as the Tiles view, except that only the file or folder name is displayed. Windows displays a thumbnail of images.
Large icons		Shows a larger view of file and folder icons. Only the name of the file or folder is displayed.Windows displays a thumbnail of images.
Extra Large icons		Shows the largest available view of file and folder icons. Only the name of the file or folder is displayed.Windows displays a thumbnail of images.
Content		Displays a listing of files, folders, and program shortcuts and their associated icons. In this view, you’ll see an item’s last modified date and file size (if a file), and date taken if an image.

Adding a Column Heading

You can add acolumn headings todisplay additional information about your files and folders. (Note: You can only do this in Details view.)

1. Navigateto the folder for which you want to add a column heading.
2. Right-clickon any column heading.
3. From the drop-down menu,clickon the heading you want to add so that a check mark appears. (In the example below, the heading “Date created” is being selected.)
   
4. The heading you added will be displayed.
   
5. Repeat steps 2and 3until you’ve added all the desired column headings.

Removing a Column Heading

1. Navigateto the folder for whom you want to remove column headings.
2. Right-clickon any column heading to display a drop-down menu of column headings; the headings that are currentlydisplayed have check marks next them, as shown below.
   
3. Clickon the column heading you want to remove so that the check mark no longer appears for that heading. The column heading will no longer be displayed for the current folder’s contents.
4. Repeatsteps 2 and 3 until you’ve removed all the desired column headings.

Creating a New Folder

1. Navigateto the location where you want to add your folder.
2. In File Explorer, click on the Home menu item.
3. From the Home riibbon, click on the New folder button.
   
4. Enterthe name of your new folder.
   
5. After you enter the folder name, clickanywhere outside the text area to complete creation of the folder name.

Displaying Subfolders

InFile Explorer, you will see a right-pointing bracket ( > ) next to any folder that contains subfolders. Just move your mouse over a folder name to see if it contains the bracket.

In the example above, “This PC” contains subfolders. To display the subfolders, just click on the folder name.

There are a number of ways to display a folder in File Explorer:

• Click on a folder if it’s listed in the Navigation pane
• Click on a folder inthe Address bar to display its subfolders
• Double-click on a folder in the file and folder listing to display anysubfolders

You can also add any folder to the Quick access area thatyou go tofrequentlyby right-clicking on the folder and selectingPin to Quick access from the drop-down menu.

You’ll now be able to open the folder at any time fromthe Quick access area:

Searching for Files

Windows 10 comes with a powerful search capability. Windows 10 will search all file types—documents, images, music, Web pages—as well as bookmarks and program shortcuts on your Desktop. Windows 10 will search file content, as well as file and folder names.

1. Navigateto the folder where you want to search for items.You will see theSearchbox in the upper right-hand corner of the Windows Explorer window. (You should see a small magnifying glass icon on the right-hand side of the text area.)
   
   (Note: Windows 10searches in yourcurrent folder. So, for example, if you’re looking for a file that you know exists somewhere in your Documents folder, you may want to conduct your search from the top level of the Documents folder[not from asubfolder in Documents] to have the best chance of finding that file.)

   When you click inside the Search text box, Windows displays a Search Toolsribbon (shown below), which provides numerous options you can select for your search.
   

2. Typethe desired search text in theSearchbox. Choose the desired search criteria from the Search Tools ribbon. (Some of thesearch criteria you select mightbe added to the Search text area; Windows updates the search results automatically as you enter search criteria.)As you type your search text, Windows automatically displays in the file and folder list area any iitemsthat match your search criteria. The Address bar will also displaySearch results in [current folder name]; in the example below, Search results in Documents isdisplayed in the Address bar. If not already displayed, expand the File Explorer window to also display file or folder location, text snippet for text documents, or dimensions for image files.
3. If you’ve set up search criteria you want to retain for a future search, you can save that search by clicking Save search.

Creating a Shortcut to a Folder

You can add a folder in the Quick access area of theNavigation Pane as a shortcut, much like you might add a bookmark in a Web browser. Creating a shortcut enables you to quickly and easily get to any folder you use frequently.

1. OpenWindows Explorer.
2. Navigateto the folder for which you want to create a shortcut.
3. Dragthe folder icon to theFavorite Linkssection, and then drop it in the position you want it to appear. (A horizontal line changes position as you move your mouse. The line indicates where your icon will appear.)
   

The folder will be displayed in theQuick access area, as shown in the example below.