File Explorer is getting a major update on Windows 11 later this year, according to a new hint from Microsoft and sources familiar with the company’s internal plans. This would be the company’s first major effort to make the file manager more “modern”, bringing it into line with Windows 11’s design and further integrating it with Microsoft 365.
Earlier today, Microsoft quietly confirmed that it is working on a major update to File Explorer by moving it to WinAppSDK. This was teased in an hour-long WinUI community chat (virtual conference to discuss issues with developers).
In today’s call, Microsoft confirmed that File Explorer is moving to SDK for Windows appwhich could open up many new possibilities, including better WinUI 3 integration, access to new APIs and more.
Windows App SDK is not a new framework or replacement for existing Windows app types such as .NET (including Windows Forms and WPF) and desktop Win32 with C++. It will not rewrite File Explorer in a new language. Instead, it’s more of a library that supports standard APIs and WinUI 3.
In short, this could allow File Explorer to access WinUI 3 features more easily, and it could result in a significant design refresh at some point in the future. However, there are concerns that the Windows App SDK could make File Explorer more buggy. XAML and similar modern components have been observed to be slower than traditional Win32 user interfaces.
The new Windows App SDK-based File Explorer will be rolling out to those in the Windows Insider program in the coming weeks. As mentioned earlier, Microsoft does not rewrite File Explorer, so there won’t be any significant changes initially. Still, users will see a “pizza” icon in the toolbar when they access the Windows App SDK version of Explorer.
Microsoft confirmed that “major updates” are coming to File Explorer during the same hour-long conversation with developers. While the exact nature of these “big changes” was not revealed, Microsoft’s design team said they are working closely with key File Explorer developers to take full advantage of the update.
It’s worth noting that apps like Phone Link and PowerToys are also built around Microsoft’s WinAppSDK.
What to expect in the Explorer refresh
Thanks to the hidden features in Windows 11, we already know what File Explorer can look like. According to sources, File Explorer is getting a new home page that offers the best of both: local file management experience and Microsoft 365.
For example, the File Explorer home page will include a “recommended” file feed that will present suggestions directly from Microsoft 365. The toolbar, buttons, context menus, property pane, and more popups will receive design changes based on references in the preview builds.
We don’t know when these changes will roll out to testers, but it won’t be anytime soon.
