Install Files: A Better Windows File Manager in Minutes

// Before you start

What you need

Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC
Microsoft Store access (easiest route) OR ability to download an installer
No coding skills needed

Step 1 of 5

Choose your install method

1 min

Files offers two ways to install: the Microsoft Store (paid, supports the developers) or a free classic installer from their GitHub releases page. Both give you the same app. Pick whichever suits you. This guide uses the free classic installer so anyone can follow along.

Terminal · mac

$ start https://github.com/files-community/Files/releases/latest

What you should see

Your browser opens the latest Files release page on GitHub, showing a list of downloadable files.

Step 2 of 5

Download the installer

2 min

On the GitHub releases page, scroll down to the 'Assets' section. Look for a file ending in .exe or .msix — it will have a name like 'Files_x.x.x_Installer.exe'. Click it to download. Wait for the download to finish before moving on.

Terminal · mac

$ REM No command needed — click the .exe or .msix file link on the GitHub releases page in your browser.

What you should see

A file named something like 'Files_x.x.x_Installer.exe' appears in your Downloads folder.

This might happen

You see a .msixbundle file but Windows says it cannot open it.

Right-click the file, choose 'Open with', then select 'App Installer'. If App Installer is missing, use the .exe installer instead.

Step 3 of 5

Run the installer

2 min

Double-click the downloaded file to start the installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning saying the app is from an unknown publisher — this is normal for open-source apps. Click 'More info' then 'Run anyway' to continue. Follow the on-screen prompts and click Install.

Terminal · mac

$ REM Double-click the downloaded installer file in your Downloads folder.

What you should see

An installation progress bar appears, then a confirmation that Files has been installed successfully.

This might happen

Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks the installer.

Click 'More info' on the SmartScreen dialog, then click 'Run anyway'. The app is safe — it is open-source and audited publicly on GitHub.

Step 4 of 5

Launch Files

1 min

Once installed, you can open Files from the Start menu by searching 'Files', or by double-clicking any folder and setting Files as your default file manager. The app opens with a familiar layout but adds tabs, a column view, file tags, and more.

Terminal · mac

$ explorer shell:AppsFolder

What you should see

A window opens showing all installed apps. Find 'Files' and double-click it to launch.

Step 5 of 5

Optionally set Files as your default file manager

2 min

By default, Windows still opens folders in the built-in File Explorer. To make Files open every time you click a folder, go into Files Settings (gear icon, bottom-left), find 'Default file manager', and toggle it on. You can always reverse this in the same settings screen.

Terminal · mac

$ REM Inside the Files app: click the gear icon (bottom-left) > scroll to 'Default file manager' > toggle ON.

What you should see

A prompt may ask for confirmation. After accepting, double-clicking any folder on your desktop or taskbar now opens it in Files instead of Windows Explorer.

This might happen

After setting Files as default, some Windows system dialogs still open old File Explorer.

This is a known Windows limitation — system dialogs are controlled by Windows itself and cannot be overridden by third-party apps. Files will still open for all normal folder navigation.

// Status

cooked. baked. worked.

A modern, tabbed file manager running on your Windows PC, with file tags, column view, and a cleaner interface than the built-in File Explorer — installed in under 10 minutes with no coding required.

// the honest bit

The honest part

Files is a polished, actively maintained app — not an experiment. However, it is not a replacement for Windows Explorer in every situation: some system-level dialogs (like Save/Open in older apps) will still use the built-in Explorer. Building from source requires Visual Studio and developer tools and is not covered here. If you want the absolute latest features before they are stable, the Preview version is available separately from the same GitHub releases page.