Microsoft finally makes Windows 11's File Explorer less confusing to users

Microsoft released the Windows 11 Build 2605 to the Dev and Canary channel, and it brings some important new features to the operating system. Low-vision Windows users can find the cursor more easily with the brand-new Point Indicator, while Windows 11 users can now enjoy two Widget boards: one for news, and other info, and the other one for their accessing their favorite apps.

While the new features are exciting and necessary, there is one improvement, in particular, that will be enjoyed by many Windows users: Microsoft finally makes Windows 11’s File Explorer less confusing to users, by adding context to its menu.

So, for instance, up until now, when you right-clicked on an item in File Explorer, you only had the icons to perform actions such as copy, cut, paste, and so on, and many of these icons were confusing to users.

However, now Microsoft added context to the icons, making it easier for users to know what they’re doing. For now, this improvement is only available to those enlisted in the Dev and Canary channels within the Windows Insider Channel, but it should be out to Windows 11 with the next Patch Tuesday updates.

Windows 11 Build 2605 is also available to both Dev, and the Canary channels, and Insiders can switch between them at will, now, temporarily, of course. If you don’t see this new File Explorer improvement on your Dev Channel, then you can easily switch to the Canary channel to see if it’s there.

Usually, as long as the feature is not hidden, in which case you would need to uncover it with a special tool, such as ViveTool, the channels should have it. If not, switching between them, now that Insiders can do that, could reveal it.

The new improvement is necessary, as File Explorer could cause a lot of confusion among those Windows users who recently migrated to Windows 11. And there might be an influx of users doing so this year, especially given that Windows 10’s EOS is approaching.

So, Microsoft made the right choice.

The full blog post can be read here.