Managing Files from File Explorer

 

File Explorer comes with your Windows operating system and it can be used to manage your folders and files. Starting with Windows 8, the term "File Explorer" is used; in prior versions of Windows, it was "Windows Explorer." When you open File Explorer, you will be able to see all of your folders, and the names of files in each folder. You can move, copy or delete folders or files, create new folders, rename folders or files. Searches can be conducted and shortcuts to programs created.

 

You can also manage files and folders directly from the Open File or Save as dialogs or from the action line. See Managing Files from Open File/Save As Dialog or Managing Files from the Action Line.

 

Explorer can be opened in any of the following ways:

 

Right-click the Windows Start button at the bottom left corner of your screen, then click click File Explorer or Explore or Open Windows Explorer (the terminology varies depending on which version of Windows you are using).
Press Windows+E (the Windows button on your keyboard and the E key).
If Explorer is already open, click the Exploring icon on your Windows taskbar or hold down the Alt key while you repeatedly press the Tab key to scroll through open programs to Explorer.

 

A tree of your hard drive is displayed on the left and files contained within on the right. The plus or minus signs to the left of the drives and folders can be clicked to display or hide folders and subfolders that are in that drive or folder.

 

Default settings in File Explorer can be changed. At the top of the Explorer screen, click Tools, Folder Options and review the options on each of the three tabs on the Folder Options dialog. We recommend that you set up your system so that extensions as well as file names are displayed for all files (on newer versions of Windows, some or all file extensions may be hidden unless you make this change). You can associate extensions of your choice with Nota Bene by adding new file types on the File Types tab of the Folder Options dialog.

 

Instructions for using Explorer for certain specific functions are available by clicking the links below. In addition, you can obtain more information on using Windows Explorer by clicking Help, Help Topics on the Explorer menu.

 

Displaying Folders and Files

Creating a New Folder

Copying or Moving a File

Renaming a Folder or a File

Sorting Files in a Folder

Finding a File

Deleting a File

Deleting a Folder