Since Microsoft started working on the first versions of Windows , this system already had certain elements that have endured over time. By this, what we mean is that some applications or functions have been around for decades, as with File Explorer, for example.
It is true that over the years the Redmond have been adding new elements to the operating system. But at the same time it has improved many others that are considered almost indispensable. These are the ones that help us both to use Windows itself in the best way, and to configure and customize it. And, how could it be otherwise, Microsoft works constantly to improve its product.
As most of you already know, Windows 10 is currently the most widely used desktop operating system in the world. Around 1 billion computers, a number that continues to grow as users migrate from previous versions, such as Windows 7. Therefore, those of Redmond do not stop adding new functions, in addition to improving some of the existing ones.
Manage all your data and applications from File Explorer
In fact, along these lines, we are going to focus on one of the oldest Windows components, as well as being one of the most used for years. Specifically we refer to the popular File Explorer that you all know. This is an element of Windows that, at a functional level, could be considered essential. The main reason for all this is that from it we have the possibility of managing all our personal files in the most efficient way.
As you know, we can access the File Explorer in several ways, although perhaps the fastest is through the Win + E key combination.
It is true that from the point of view of many users, there has come a time when this File Explorer should undergo a great change. That is why Microsoft itself has for months hinted that it is working on a major redesign of this element, although little is officially known. Still, as most of you know, File Explorer is the Windows tool that allows users to navigate through all their drives , folders, and files .
Therefore the importance of all this is unquestionable. In fact, it is from there that we have the possibility to move, copy or delete all kinds of stored data. From there everything will depend on our organizational capabilities. But as with many other sections of Windows, this element, in addition to being functional, can also be customized.
How to customize File Explorer to be more effective
What’s more, we can affirm that the fact of using it often makes users realize that it is possible to customize this element. We are talking about the possibility offered by the system to adjust the view of the folders and files to show them in the most comfortable way for us at all times. In this way we have the possibility to see the larger or smaller icons, show the details of the folders and files, their extension , etc.
It is for all this that we are going to show you all this that we are telling you below. Specifically, we are going to show you how to change the default view in Windows File Explorer. At this point, it is worth mentioning that these types of configurations that we are talking about are specific to each folder. With this, what we want to tell you is that if we change the view of the folders and files in a directory , it will only be established in that folder. At the same time, if we want to make these changes in others, we will have to do it one by one in the rest.
But Microsoft, aware that this is a nuisance, offers us a more effective alternative. And there is a way to establish the same folder design for all those that are of the same type. In this way we will have the possibility to customize the view of the folders in Windows File Explorer , all according to their content. And you have to bear in mind that Windows File Explorer itself is capable of recognizing the type of files that a folder contains. In this way we can apply a specific view for that folder according to its content.
How to change the default view of File Explorer
That is, if we save music in a directory on the computer and configure the view of it and customize it, we can make the Explorer show the same configuration in the rest of the folders that contain music files. So we can have a configuration for the folders that contain documents, a different one for which we save photos, videos, music or any other format.
Well, once we know all this, the first thing we have to do is open a folder that contains a specific type of file. For example, we can focus on MP3s, a type of file that most of us use regularly. So, we are going to configure this folder to change its default display mode. The first thing will be to open an Explorer window as we showed you before, to place ourselves in the View tab.
Once we are in this tab, in the upper part of the window that appears we will see that we have the possibility to indicate if we want to see the icons large, small, in a list, etc.
Once this is done, the next thing we can do is, from this same tab that we have mentioned, click on the button called Options. This is located in the upper right part of the Explorer, so a drop-down list appears where we choose See folder and search options. Then this will lead us to the Folder Options window , so then we click on the View tab. Then a section called Folder Views will appear, followed by a list with multiple configurable options.
This is where we can specify if we want to see hidden files , extensions, drive letters , protected files, empty drives, etc. Thus, once we have made all the changes, we only have to click on Apply to folders.
At the moment we click on this button , the system will apply the same configuration specified before to all folders that contain the same type of files.