Files — Modern File Manager for Windows with Tabs and Git

Introduction

Files replaces the default Windows File Explorer with a tabbed, customizable file manager built on WinUI 3 and Fluent Design. It brings features developers expect, like column view, dual pane, tag-based organization, and native Git status indicators, to everyday file management on Windows.

What Files Does

• Provides tabbed file browsing with drag-and-drop tab reordering
• Displays Git repository status directly in the file listing (modified, untracked, staged)
• Supports column view, dual pane, and compact overlay layouts
• Offers file tagging and custom grouping for project organization
• Integrates with Windows Shell extensions and context menu handlers

Architecture Overview

Files is built with C# on the WinAppSDK (WinUI 3) framework, targeting Windows 10 version 1903 and later. It uses the Windows Storage API for file operations, integrates with libgit2sharp for Git status display, and renders its UI with the Fluent Design System. The app runs as a standard desktop application with optional shell integration.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via WinGet, Microsoft Store, or GitHub releases (MSIX package)
• Configure appearance, layout defaults, and startup behavior in Settings
• Set Files as the default file manager to replace Windows Explorer
• Customize toolbar actions and context menu entries
• Supports portable configuration export and import

Key Features

• Native Git integration showing file status without switching to a terminal
• Tabbed browsing with split view for side-by-side file operations
• Cloud storage integration with OneDrive, Google Drive, and iCloud
• Archive handling (ZIP, 7z, RAR) with preview and extraction built in
• Keyboard-driven navigation with customizable shortcuts

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Windows Explorer — No tabs, no Git integration, limited customization
• Total Commander — Powerful but dated UI; Files uses modern Fluent Design
• Directory Opus — Commercial; Files is free and open source
• Dolphin (KDE) — Linux only; Files is Windows-native with WinUI 3

FAQ

Q: Can Files replace Windows Explorer as the default? A: Yes. Files can register as the default file manager so that folder opens and Win+E launch Files instead of Explorer.

Q: Does it support network drives and UNC paths? A: Yes. Files supports mapped drives, UNC paths, and FTP locations.

Q: Is it free? A: Yes. Files is free and open source under the MIT license. A paid version on the Microsoft Store supports development but the GitHub release is always free.

Q: What are the system requirements? A: Windows 10 version 1903 or later, with the Windows App SDK runtime.

Sources

• https://github.com/files-community/Files
• https://files.community