If you’re like most people, you open your computer’s file explorer to get to the files and folders that are important to you. But if you have a Windows 10 PC, there’s a better way to do things. To open your file explorer in a different window or even on another computer, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and type “file explorer.” If your PC doesn’t have the “file explorer” program installed by default, you can find it in the “Programs” category on the left side of the screen.
- When file explorer is open, click on its icon in the top left corner of the screen. This will take you to a new window or tab where you can choose which folder or window to open for this PC.
- To close file explorer, click on its icon again or pressEsc key combination.
By default, when you click on the File Explorer shortcut on your Windows 10 taskbar, it opens to Quick Access. If you’d prefer it to open to “This PC” instead, it’s easy to change in File Explorer settings. Here’s how.
First, open any File Explorer window. In the menu, click File > Change folder and search options.
In “Folder Options,” click the “General” tab, then click the menu beside “Open File Explorer to.”
In the menu that appears, select “This PC.”
This is the modern replacement for “My Computer” on Windows, and it shows internal disks, external storage devices, network locations, and frequently used folders like your Downloads, Desktop, and Documents directories.
Click OK, and “Folder Options” will close. The next time you open File Explorer, you’ll see “This PC” as the first location that opens.
If you dislike Windows 10’s Quick Access feature, there are several other ways to disable Quick Access features as well. Good luck!
RELATED: How to Disable Quick Access in File Explorer on Windows 10
