Windows’ File Explorer Is More Like a Web Browser Than You Think

When you’re browsing the internet, you rarely keep one window open at a time. Instead, you use tabs to multitask, and jump from website to website.

Windows File Explorer, like your favorite web browser, offers the same type of experience. Rather than work within one window at a time, losing the last window with each folder you open, you can choose to open multiple tabs at once. That way, you can quickly return to different folders within File Explorer, saving you time and resources.

The next time you want to open a folder without losing your current place, right-click on the folder and choose “Open in New Tab.” Now, you can switch between the tabs, just as you would within a web browser, anytime you want to return to the previous window.

You can move these tabs anywhere you’d like within the window, too: If you prefer a folder’s tab be at the top of the list, just drag it as far left as possible—just like you would within a web browser. In addition, you can move files between your open tabs for quick transfers. Alt + Left Arrow also navigates back in a tab, if you need to.