Browsing through our Windows folders is sometimes a very complicated task. A multitude of open windows are stacked and being all grouped it is difficult to work with speed. However, there are alternatives to the native file explorer that make our task easier by working with columns and tabs.
The Windows file explorer has been linked to the operating system since time immemorial. It has always been the quintessential tool for searching files or programs. However, it is not as comfortable as it should be.
Many users need to work with several windows at once and Windows, by default, groups all open windows of a program in the same place. And, on top of that, the browser process, explorer.exe, usually consumes many resources , even in the background. But the grouping of windows complicates the selection of the one we want to work with. But it is something that can be fixed with third-party tools.
The developers are knowledgeable about the needs of the users and there are many external browsers that have been created. Specifically, there are several that allow the opening of several columns with different locations in the same window or, even, through tabs, such as a web browser.
The Best Alternatives to the Windows File Explorer
The main problem of the native browser is that of usability. Windows features make multitasking difficult when browsing or managing our files. It was even said that, in future updates, Microsoft would include the tabs in its browser . But it has not been that way.
Therefore, we must take into account the great alternatives that developers offer us, with much better navigation for our experience.
WinNc
The first tool is designed for the long work of many windows at once. With an interface that has a double panel, navigation is carried out using tabs, so we can open any directory either on the right or on the left. Thus, the program allows us to drag and drop in the location we want from the same window.
Among its many features it has the conversion of audio extensions or even a .zip file extractor. In addition, it facilitates the observation of our tasks, labeling the copy, cut or paste of our files with colors. And, of course, we can add all the tasks we want to the queue for the program to perform without pause.
The program is paid, but has a trial version. We can download it from the following link .
Total Commander
We talked about one of the most recognized programs in this task. It is a double pane browser that works with the directories we want at the moment. It has a very powerful search function, FTP client and support for .zip, .rar or .tar files, among others.
In addition, the panel is not only in the program display, but it is accompanied by a tree navigation to be able to find the location we want with ease.
The program is completely free and we can download it from the following link .
Double Commander
This is a program with a lot of baggage behind. It is a tool that allows browsing as a file browser with tabs and double panel . It is inspired by Total Commander, but they claim to include additional functions.
Among them, it is worth mentioning the inclusion of an internal text editor with a syntactic corrector, tab, customization of the columns or the visualization of the files in binary, hexadecimal or text.
This tool is also free and can be downloaded from the following link .
QTTabBar
The following tool is not an explorer as such, but rather an extension for the Windows native. Its functionality is none other than to add the possibility of creating tabs with different directories in a single window.
Thus, this tool would achieve what Windows has not yet done and what users need so much, a navigation in the file browser with tabs. And, in addition, it offers the possibility of adding an extra view, being able to use in the same window a double panel with our browser.
It is completely free and can be downloaded from the following link .
Clover
Clover is similar to QTabBar, focusing on tabbed browsing in the Windows file explorer . However, it does so by assimilating a web browser, with the certainty that the user will be very comfortable with it from the first moment.
Its operation is very simple. We can create new tabs with the Control + T combination, close them with Control + W and change the window with Control + W. And, in addition, it includes the function of the markers, to add the locations we want as favorites.
It can be downloaded from the following link .
Directory Opus
Better known as Dopus, it is the third-party Windows Explorer par excellence. It allows you to navigate in single view, with double panel or in tree view. And, again, there is also the possibility of using tabs in this browser.
It has FTP support, image and document viewer, metadata editor and a queue for tasks. Its interface is fully customizable and allows the use of keyboard macros for faster use of its features.
The program is paid, but it has a 30-day trial version that can be extended to 60. We can download it at the following link .
FreeCommander
Somewhat coarser than Total Commander and Double Commander, this is characterized by allowing the preview of the files in a folder, the instant calculation of its size and the quick management of all files with ease.
In fact, its double panel view can be configured horizontally or vertically, to make the work between two directories and the use of the tree view much easier according to the user. We can download it from the following link .
Quad Directory
Q-Dir is perhaps the most extravagant option on the entire list. We are not talking about a current application, but one designed for the most demanding. Q-Dir is a file explorer for Windows not double-pane, but four. Its window is made up of four divisions in which we can put the directories we want to work.
Best of all, it is a portable tool, which we can take wherever we want, and that facilitates the task of dragging documents between locations. It is based on the Windows file explorer. And, of course, it has tabbed browsing functionality, which can be changed with keyboard shortcuts.
In addition, it allows you to save the window configuration with the favorite folders you want, being able to save up to 64 different combinations of four locations in your quad panel view.
It is free and we can download it from the following link .
