Surely and slowly, we are getting there! Perhaps the most requested feature is the addition of tabs in File Explorer. This has been a public demand for over a decade or two.
Microsoft finally answered the call in 2018 with the introduction of Sets, but that sadly turned out to be a false start. That concept was powered by Edge and brought tabs all over the operating system, not just in Windows.
However, that approach was abandoned, with Microsoft promising to explore new ways to add tabs.
It did so earlier this year.
Tabs were added to File Explorer as part of the Windows Insider program for testing, and they seem to have been very well received by users. They are neatly designed, and there are no complaints regarding usability and user interface.
This is how they look:
Given that this is a major update for Windows 11, Microsoft rolled out File Explorer tabs exclusively in the Dev channel, sticking to its gradual release strategy. In other words, only some users were provided with access to tabs on their installations.
Everybody else was told to wait until more feedback was collected from the first testers.
Well, the feedback is good, and the company is now ready to make the feature available to more users.
The release of Windows 11 build 25179 marked another milestone for this feature. Microsoft explained that more users can try out File Explorer tabs. In fact, everyone in the Dev channel now has access to it.
The changelog has Microsoft explaining:
“File Explorer tabs and navigation updates (which began rolling out to the Dev Channel with Build 25136) are now rolling out to everyone in the Dev Channel. If you don’t see these features right away, please try rebooting. If that doesn’t work, please file feedback in Feedback Hub.”
So far, so good.
No indication yet when tabs could go live for all users, as features in the Dev channel do not have a specific release date. But we can imagine things are getting closer, as tabs are also in testing in the Release Preview ring.
We can’t be too far off.
