File Explorer
| Windows File Explorer | |
|---|---|
File Explorer on Windows 11 in Light App Mode showing special folders on Home, with the new command bar and tabs feature | |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Initial release | August 15, 1995 |
| Stable release | |
| Preview release | |
| Included with | Windows 95 and later |
| Predecessor | Program Manager, File Manager |
| Type | Shell, 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; however, the old name of "Windows Explorer" can still be seen in the Windows Task Manager.