How To Use The File Explorer on Windows 11

Windows 11 File Explorer Explained: The Beginner’s Essential Guide to Finding and Organizing Your Files!

Hi guys, this is Darren from Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

If you’re new to Windows 11—or maybe just getting reacquainted with a modern operating system—the single most important tool you need to master is the File Explorer. This is your digital filing cabinet, the place where every photo, document, and download lives.

For beginners, seniors, or anyone who just wants a straightforward guide, this tutorial is for you. We’re going to walk through the absolute basics, ensuring you can open File Explorer, navigate it confidently, and even start organizing your digital life by creating, copying, and moving files with ease!

Let’s dive into mastering File Explorer in Windows 11.

Two Easy Ways to Open File Explorer

The first step in organizing your PC is simply finding the File Explorer! Windows 11 gives you two reliable methods to launch this essential tool.

Method 1: The Taskbar Icon

The simplest way is to look at your Taskbar (the strip usually located at the bottom of your screen).

1. Locate the yellow folder icon.
2. Click on the folder icon once.

This immediately launches the File Explorer window, usually opening to the Home view (or Quick Access).

Method 2: The Essential Keyboard Shortcut

If you love efficiency (and trust us, this shortcut will save you tons of time), you can launch File Explorer using two keys simultaneously:

1. Hold down the Windows Key (it usually has the Windows logo on it).
2. While holding the Windows key, press the E key.

Combining Windows Key + E is the fastest professional way to open your File Explorer.

Understanding the File Explorer Layout

Once File Explorer is open, you’ll see a navigation pane on the left and a main content area on the right. This window is your central hub for all files on your PC.

Key Navigation Areas:

• Quick Access (Home): This shows your recently accessed files and frequently used folders.
• Desktop: Everything you see cluttering your actual desktop screen is listed here.
• Downloads: This is the default location for files you pull from the internet (like installers or PDFs).
• Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc.: Default locations pre-set by Windows to help you categorize your digital belongings.
• This PC: Click here to see the actual drives connected to your computer (like the C: drive) and check how much storage space you have remaining.

You can click any item in the left navigation pane to immediately view its contents in the right pane.

Pro Tip for Navigation: If you click into a folder and need to go back, simply click the back arrow (located in the top-left corner of the File Explorer window, just above the navigation pane). If you went back too far, the forward arrow will take you right back in!

Creating New Folders for Organization

The best way to stop files from piling up is to create dedicated, descriptive folders. Let’s create a new one on the desktop.

1. Navigate to the location where you want the new folder (e.g., click Desktop on the left pane).
2. Right-click anywhere in the empty space of the main content area.
3. In the context menu that appears, hover over New, and then click Folder.
4. A new folder will appear, highlighting the name for immediate editing. Type your desired name (e.g., Darren’s Folder or Vacation Photos 2024).
5. Hit the Enter key to save the name.

Congratulations! You now have a clean, dedicated space ready to receive files.

Need to Create a New File?

If you need a quick placeholder or a new text document:

1. Navigate to your chosen folder (e.g., inside Darren’s Folder).
2. Right-click > hover over New > select Text Document.
3. Name your new file (e.g., Darren’s Test File).

Mastering Copy, Cut, and Paste

Once you have your folders set up, you need to know how to move your files into them. This is where Copy, Cut, and Paste come into play. Windows 11 makes these commands very accessible via icons at the top of the File Explorer window.

Step-by-Step: Cutting a File (Moving it)

Let’s practice moving a file from your Desktop to your Documents folder.

1. Locate the file you want to move (e.g., Darren’s Test File on the Desktop).
2. Click the file once to select it.
3. In the File Explorer toolbar at the top, click the Cut icon (it looks like a pair of scissors).
   • Note: The file will appear slightly faded, indicating it is waiting to be pasted.
4. Navigate to the destination folder (e.g., click Documents in the left navigation pane).
5. Click the Paste icon in the toolbar (it looks like a small clipboard).

The file will instantly appear in the new location (Documents) and be gone from the original location (Desktop). You’ve successfully cut and pasted (moved) your first file!

Ready to Explore?

That was a quick but powerful look at how to use the basic functions of File Explorer in Windows 11! You now know how to launch the tool, find your way around the essential navigation areas, and use the key commands (Cut, Copy, and Paste) necessary to organize your digital world.

If you found this tutorial helpful, please hit that like button and be sure to subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials! We’re putting out more introductory videos on Windows 11 every week.

If you have any issues using File Explorer or want a deeper dive into any of the topics we covered, drop a comment below. I’ll certainly help if I can!

Thanks for watching!