The pictures were originally posted by Italian Windows news site WindowsBlogItalia. The site claims they show the new File Explorer app in an unfinished form, revealing what Windows users can expect to see in an upcoming update.
The app includes all the basic features currently available in File Explorer. There’s the option to sort files and folders, move, copy, share and delete items and modify advanced file properties. A search button in the bottom corner lets you find files and folders while a Quick Access section highlights recent picks.
As with all modern Windows apps, two different colour schemes are available. The app will have a light or dark background depending on your system theme choice. The overall design of the app is much simpler than the current File Explorer. It appears to be overly simplistic though, lacking the ease of use of its desktop counterpart.
It isn’t yet clear how the app has been built or whether it will be a direct replacement for the current desktop File Explorer. It could be a major refresh of the existing app or a new alternative to be offered in the Windows Store. Microsoft is gradually converting elements of the Windows desktop to modern Store components, making them easier to update and less resource intensive on smaller devices.
As with all leaks, there’s no guarantee the screenshots are actually accurate. The source has been criticised and other analysts have doubted the authenticity of the pictures. Mehedi Hassan of MSPoweruser noted the app appears to have been taken from the Xbox and ported to the PC, suggesting it may not be legitimate. Microsoft could be trying to unify its various File Explorer apps though, creating a single design to span desktop PCs, mobile devices and the Xbox One.
Even if the leak isn’t accurate, there’s good reason to believe Microsoft is working on an extensive update to the current File Explorer app. Earlier this year, Peter Skillman, General Manager of Windows desktop Core UX, said the company is developing a “total update” of File Explorer, but declined to specify a schedule.
Microsoft hasn’t made any significant changes to File Explorer since the launch of Windows 8. In 2012, it overhauled the Windows 7 design with a more modern Ribbon layout, making it easier to access advanced features. In Windows 10, few alterations were made. Microsoft added Quick Access, a shortcut page to frequently used folders and files, but didn’t change the design of the basic app.
With the new app, Microsoft may implement some of the features that have been requested by fans for years. The Windows Feedback app is full of suggestions that tabbed browsing be added to File Explorer, making it easier to keep track of multiple open folders without cluttering the desktop.
The app also needs to be made easier to use on touchscreens. Its current reliance on small Ribbon buttons and drop-down menus makes it difficult to interact with on tablets, despite being one of the most frequently used Windows apps.
