How to Customize Windows 10 File Explorer
Windows 10 File Explorer is a powerful tool that allows users to navigate, manage, and organize their files and folders efficiently. However, the default settings may not always cater to everyone’s preferences. In this article, we will guide you through the process of customizing Windows 10 File Explorer to suit your needs and enhance your productivity.
1. Change the Appearance
The first step in customizing Windows 10 File Explorer is to change its appearance. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the taskbar and select “Taskbar settings.”
2. Scroll down and click on “File Explorer options.”
3. In the “Appearance” tab, you can choose between “Windows (default)” and “Classic.”
4. Select the appearance you prefer and click “Apply” and then “OK.”
2. Modify the Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar provides quick access to frequently used files, folders, and commands. To customize it, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the Quick Access Toolbar and select “Customize Quick Access Toolbar.”
2. From the list of available commands, drag and drop the ones you want to add to the toolbar.
3. To rearrange the commands, click and drag them to the desired position.
4. Click “OK” to save your changes.
3. Change the Default File Explorer Settings
You can change the default file explorer settings to suit your preferences. Here’s how:
1. Open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab.
2. In the “Layout” group, you can choose from various options, such as “Thumbnails,” “Details,” and “List.”
3. You can also toggle the visibility of file icons, file name extensions, and hidden files by using the checkboxes in the “Show/hide” group.
4. To customize the view for specific file types, right-click on the file type in the “Layout” group and select “Properties.”
5. In the “Open with” tab, you can change the default program for opening the file type.
4. Pin Folders to Quick Access
To quickly access frequently used folders, you can pin them to the Quick Access section of File Explorer. Here’s how:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to pin.
2. Right-click on the folder and select “Pin to Quick Access.”
3. The folder will now appear in the Quick Access section of File Explorer.
5. Create a Custom File Explorer Context Menu
You can create a custom context menu for files and folders in File Explorer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder or file you want to add a custom command to.
2. Right-click on the folder or file and select “Properties.”
3. In the “Customize” tab, click on “Open with Windows Explorer.”
4. Click “Edit” to open the “Edit File Association” window.
5. In the “Actions” list, click “New” and enter the name of your custom command.
6. In the “Command” field, enter the path to the program you want to use for the command.
7. Click “OK” to save your changes.
By following these steps, you can customize Windows 10 File Explorer to suit your preferences and enhance your productivity. Remember that you can always revert to the default settings if you’re not satisfied with the changes you’ve made.
