The File Explorer program, formerly known as Windows Explorer, has been a core element of the operating system for decades. Like most of the various portions of the operating system, it’s been given a noticeable overhaul in Windows 10. There are plenty of new tools to get acclimated to, though the basic layout and functionality will be familiar to anyone who has used Windows XP or later. Here’s a quick guide on some of the finer points of the new File Explorer.
Quick Access
The Quick Access area, which by default is the first section of the Navigation Pane in the left-hand column, is essentially a “Bookmarks” bar for File Explorer. It shows both your most recently-accessed folders and “pinned” folders, folders that you manually assign to this area to quickly get to from any folder in Windows. You can do this with any folder in Windows: just right-click or long-press any folder on any screen, then click “Pin to Quick access.”