Windows 10 File Explorer is the main tool for working with files and folders. It's the window where you search for documents and photos or launch programs. You could say it's a digital desktop, without which it's hard to imagine a day at the computer.
Most of us are used to opening it in one or two ways, such as through the icon on the taskbar. But in fact, there are many more ways to launch File Explorer. Some of them can seriously speed up your work, especially if your usual method doesn't work for some reason.
In this article, we have compiled a total of 12 methods, from the most well-known to the rather clever. You are sure to find several new options that will make navigating files even more convenient and faster.
Using the icon on the taskbar
Windows PCs come with a specific set of applications pre-pinned to the taskbar, including File Explorer; simply click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar to open it.
If you have removed the Explorer icon from the taskbar, you can use one of the other methods below to launch it and then pin it back to the taskbar.
To do this, after opening File Explorer, right-click on its icon in the taskbar and select “Pin to taskbar” so that it is always there. You can then drag it to any location on the taskbar.
Use the keyboard shortcut
Almost every Windows PC keyboard has a Windows key (the one with the Windows logo). You can open File Explorer by pressing Windows E simultaneously.
Using Windows Search
You can find any application on your computer using the search function. In the search box on the left side of the taskbar, simply type “Explorer”, and then click (or use the arrow keys to select) “File Explorer” in the search results to launch it.
Using the Start menu
There are three ways to open File Explorer from the menu “Start”. First, click the “Start” button, then scroll through the list of applications and open the folder “Utilities – Windows”. In the submenu, click “File Explorer”, to open it.
You can also pin File Explorer to the sidebar above the Start button . To do this, click Settings → Personalization → Start, and then click “Select which folders will be displayed in the Start menu”.
On the next screen, enable the option ‘Explorer’ by moving the switch slider to the position “On”.
The File Explorer will now appear in the sidebar menu. “Start”; click on it to launch Explorer.
You can also add a File Explorer tile to the Start menu home screen. To do this, open the menu “Start”, enter “Explorer” in the search field, and then on the panel that appears to the right of the search results, click “Pin to Start”.
Alternatively, if you have pinned the File Explorer to the Start menu sidebar, you can right-click on the File Explorer icon and select “Pin to Start Screen”.
Explorer will now appear in the Start menu; simply click on the tile to launch it.
From the advanced user menu
You can also open File Explorer from the advanced user menu. To access it, press Windows X or right-click the Start button and select File Explorer.
There are many ways to open File Explorer in Windows 10 — and you don't have to look for the shortcut on the desktop every time. A couple of mouse clicks, a keyboard shortcut, or a single click in the Start menu is all it takes to access all your folders and files. In this article, we'll show you the 12 fastest and easiest ways to launch File Explorer so you can choose the one that works best for you.
Ask Cortana
If your computer has a microphone and you can use Cortana, ask her to open File Explorer. To do this, click the Cortana icon (circle) on the taskbar.
Key for this. Click on the microphone icon and say “Open File Explorer” (what you say will also be displayed on the screen).
If you don't have a microphone, you can simply type “File Explorer” in the Cortana search field.
Use the “Run” application
You can also launch Explorer in the Run dialog box. Press Windows R to open the Run window. In the “Open:” type “Explorer”, press “OK”, and File Explorer will open.
Run the source file
By default, Windows stores the Explorer EXE file in the “Windows” folder on the C: drive. Go to the folder “Windows”, find “Explorer.exe” in the long list, then double-click it to open File Explorer.
Add a shortcut to the desktop
For faster access to File Explorer, you can create a shortcut on your desktop. To do this, click the Start button in the lower-left corner.
Scroll down the list of applications and open the folder “System Tools – Windows”. In the submenu, drag with the mouse Explorer to your desktop. You can also drag File Explorer from the pinned tiles on the Start menu home screen.
Now you can simply double-click the shortcut on your desktop to open File Explorer at any time.
From Task Manager
The Task Manager is not only for closing applications or monitoring processes and performance—you can also use it to launch applications. To launch File Explorer this way, press Ctrl Shift Esc to open the Task Manager. Then press “File” and select Run a new task.
A window will appear “Create a new task”. Enter “Explorer” in the text field “Open:”, and press ‘OK’, file Explorer will open.
Using the command line
You can run almost any application on your PC, including File Explorer, from the command line. To do this, enter cmd in the Windows search field, and then select Command Prompt in the search results to open it.
In the command prompt, enter the following command and press Enter:
File Explorer will open.
As you can see, there are many different ways to open File Explorer in Windows 10. From a simple click on the icon in the taskbar to using keyboard shortcuts or even the command line.
It is not necessary to remember them all. The main thing is to choose two or three methods that seem most convenient to you and use them in your daily work.
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