File Explorer

This article is about the Microsoft Windows file listing browser. For exploring file system listings, see file browser. For exploring inside files, see file viewer.
"Windows Explorer" and "explorer.exe" redirect here. They are not to be confused with Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe).

Windows File Explorer
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseAugust 15, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-08-15)
Stable release
23H2 (10.0.22631.4249) (September 26, 2024; 3 days ago (2024-09-26)[1]) [±]
Preview release
;Release Preview Channel

24H2 (10.0.26100.1876) (September 23, 2024; 6 days ago (2024-09-23)[2][3]) [±]

Beta Channel

23H2 (10.0.22635.4225) (September 20, 2024; 9 days ago (2024-09-20)[4]) [±]

Dev Channel

24H2 (10.0.26120.1843) (September 20, 2024; 9 days ago (2024-09-20)[5]) [±]

Canary Channel

10.0.27695.1000 (August 30, 2024; 30 days ago (2024-08-30)[6]) [±]

Included withWindows 95 and later
PredecessorProgram Manager, File Manager
TypeShell, file manager

File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application and default desktop environment that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems, as well as user interface elements such as the taskbar and desktop.

The application was renamed from "Windows Explorer" to "File Explorer" in Windows 8;[7] however, the old name of "Windows Explorer" can still be seen in the Windows Task Manager.

  1. ^ "September 26, 2024—KB5043145 (OS Builds 22621.4249 and 22631.4249) Preview". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
  2. ^ "Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.1876 to the Release Preview Channel". Windows Insider Blog. September 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "September 10, 2024—KB5043080 (OS Build 26100.1742)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
  4. ^ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225 (Beta Channel)". Windows Insider Blog. September 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843 (Dev Channel)". Windows Insider Blog. September 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695 (Canary Channel)". Windows Insider Blog. August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference win8-fileexp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).