The quickest ways to open File Explorer

File Explorer is the program on your computer that shows you all your files and folders. On Windows, the fastest way to open it is to press the Windows key and the letter E at the same time. On a Mac, the equivalent program is called Finder, and you open it by pressing Command and the spacebar, then typing "Finder" and pressing Enter.

If keyboard shortcuts feel unfamiliar, you can also click the folder icon on your taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen on Windows, or the dock at the bottom on a Mac). If you don't see a folder icon there, you can right-click on your desktop and look for an option that says "Open File Explorer" or "New Finder Window".

Once File Explorer opens, you'll see a window with folders and files displayed. The left side usually shows shortcuts to common places like Documents, Downloads, and Desktop. The main area in the middle shows what's inside whichever folder you've selected.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Windows key + E on Windows or Command + Spacebar then type "Finder" on a Mac to open your file browser when ready.
  • The left sidebar shows shortcuts to your most-used folders like Documents and Downloads, so you don't have to dig through your entire computer.
  • Double-clicking a folder opens it; double-clicking a file opens it with the program that created it.
  • The address bar at the top shows you exactly where you are in your folder structure, which helps you backtrack if you get lost.

Understanding the main parts of the window

When File Explorer opens, the window is divided into sections. On the left is the navigation pane, which lists folders you use often. These are shortcuts — clicking them takes you directly to that folder without having to click through multiple levels. The main area on the right shows the contents of whichever folder you've selected.

At the very top is the address bar, which shows your current location as a path. For example, it might say "C:\Users\YourName\Documents" on Windows or "/Users/YourName/Documents" on a Mac. This path tells you exactly where you are in your folder structure. If you want to go back to a parent folder (the folder that contains your current folder), you can click the back arrow button on the left side of the toolbar.

The toolbar also contains a search box, usually on the right side. You can type a filename or part of a filename there, and File Explorer will search through the current folder and its subfolders to find matching files.

How to navigate between folders

To open a folder, double-click it with your mouse. The contents of that folder will appear in the main area. If you want to go back to the previous folder, click the back arrow button in the toolbar, or press the Backspace key on your keyboard.

You can also navigate using the address bar. Click anywhere in the address bar and you can type a new path directly, or click on any folder name in the path to jump back to that level. For example, if you're in "Documents > Work > 2024 Projects", you can click on "Documents" in the address bar to jump straight back there without clicking the back button multiple times.

On the left sidebar, you'll see common locations like Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Pictures. Clicking any of these takes you directly to that folder. If you find yourself using a particular folder often, you can right-click it and select "Pin to Quick Access" (Windows) or drag it to the Favorites section (Mac) so it stays visible in the sidebar.

Opening files from File Explorer

Once you've found a file, double-clicking it will open it with the program that created it. A Word document opens in Word, a photo opens in your image viewer, a PDF opens in your PDF reader, and so on. Your computer remembers which program should open each file type based on its extension — the letters after the period in the filename.

If you want to open a file with a different program than the default, right-click the file and look for an option like "Open with" or "Open with..." This will show you a list of programs on your computer that can open that file type. Select the one you want and click it.

You can also select multiple files at once by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and clicking each file you want. Then you can move them, copy them, or delete them all together, rather than doing it one file at a time.

Creating new folders and organizing files

To create a new folder, right-click in the empty space of File Explorer and select "New Folder" (Windows) or "New Folder" (Mac). A new folder will appear with a text box where you can type its name. Press Enter when you're done typing.

Once you have folders organized the way you want them, you can move files into them by dragging and dropping. Click and hold on a file, drag it over the folder you want it in, and release the mouse button. The file will move into that folder. If you want to copy a file instead of moving it, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while dragging.

You can also cut and paste files. Right-click a file, select "Cut", navigate to the folder where you want it, right-click in the empty space, and select "Paste". This moves the file rather than copying it.

Finding files when you're not sure where they are

If you know the filename but not where it's stored, use the search box in File Explorer. Type the filename or part of it, and File Explorer will search through all your folders. The search results will show every file that matches what you typed, along with its location.

On Windows, you can also use the search box in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen to search your entire computer, not just the current folder. On a Mac, use Spotlight search by pressing Command and the spacebar, then type the filename.

If you remember only part of the filename, search for that part. For example, if you're looking for a file about your taxes but can't remember the exact name, searching for "tax" will find "2024 tax return", "tax documents", and anything else with that word in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between moving and copying a file?

Moving removes the file from its original location and puts it in a new one — you end up with one copy. Copying leaves the original where it is and creates a duplicate in the new location — you end up with two copies. Use Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+X then Command+V (Mac) to move; use Ctrl+C then Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+C then Command+V (Mac) to copy.

Can I undo if I accidentally delete a file?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after deleting. If you've already emptied the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac), recovery becomes much harder. For important files, consider using a backup system so you have a copy stored elsewhere.

Why can't I see certain files in File Explorer?

Some files are hidden by default to prevent accidental changes to system files. On Windows, click the View tab and check the box for "Hidden items". On a Mac, press Command+Shift+Period to show hidden files. Be careful not to delete anything you don't recognize.

How do I know what file type something is?

Look at the extension — the letters after the period in the filename. A .docx file is a Word document, a .jpg is a photo, a .pdf is a PDF file. In File Explorer, you can also right-click a file and select "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac) to see detailed information about it, including what program opens it.