Windows 11 File Explorer: 15 Tricks in 3 MINUTES!, by Anson Explores Windows on YouTube. 3 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Press Windows key plus E to open File Explorer instantly from anywhere in Windows.
Right-click a folder, choose Properties, then Customize and Change Icon to give important folders a distinct look.
Open File Explorer Options from the three-dot menu and set Open File Explorer to your preferred folder, such as This PC.
In the View menu, turn on Navigation pane and expand folders to show the full folder tree on the left.
Right-click a file or folder and choose Pin to Quick access so it stays at the top of the sidebar.
Select several files, press F2, type one name and press Enter to rename them all with numbered suffixes.
Select multiple images, right-click and use Rotate left or Rotate right to turn them all at once.
Turn on Details pane and Preview pane from the View menu to see file info and image previews beside the list.
Enable Item check boxes in the View menu so you can tick files instead of using Ctrl-click.
In the View menu, tick Hidden items and File name extensions to see hidden files and full file types.
Tips and common mistakes
Turning on file name extensions helps you spot the real type of a file before opening it.
Use Ctrl-click or the new check boxes to select files without accidentally opening them.
Clear the recent files list in File Explorer Options if you share the PC with others.
Batch rename keeps the original extension, so only change the name part, not the dot and letters after it.
Questions
Will showing hidden items or file extensions break anything?
No. These are display settings only. You can turn them off again from the View menu at any time.
Can I undo a batch rename?
Not with one click. Press Ctrl+Z right after renaming to undo it, or rename the files again manually.
How do I remove recently used files from File Explorer?
Open File Explorer Options, find the Privacy section and click Clear next to Show recently used files and folders.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
