Bring Back Old File Explorer in Windows 11

Bring Back Old File Explorer in Windows 11
So you upgrade to Windows 11 and don't like Windows Explorer or File Explorer? well, you can restore Windows 10 file explorer on Windows 11 with a 3rd party tool or you can use a registry tweak to restore file explorer. You can restore to default file explorer and anytime.

Download Winaero Tweaker

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions
String Value:
{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}

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[Britec]

Like file explorer in windows 10 and want it back in windows 11? watch the video. Drop us a LIKE👍

[edwardfitzgerald]

Windows every few years: "Our product is getting actually decently good. How about we make it worse, just for kicks?"

[DavidGoben]

A quick and dirty way to recover the old file explorer ribbon, though the change is temporary and is discarded when you exit file explorer, is to:
1 Bring up File Explorer.
2 Tap the Up Arrow in the navigation ribbon to bring up the Desktop.
3 Select the displayed Control Panel icon (it still uses the old Windows 10 Explorer scheme). Then, when Control Panel comes up...
4 Hit the Up Arrow again to return the browser to Desktop.
It will now be in the old File Explorer mode and the full old ribbon is exposed. Tabs are also gone. Being that I only need this on rare occasions, this is really fast to do and serves its purposes for me, though again, this change goes away when you close file explorer.

[JohnDavidSullivan]

This is how you know Microsoft have well and truly screwed the pooch, when folks need to make Windows 11 look and work like it did in Windows 10 lol - seriously good video :)

[markthering]

You're God-sent! I was annoyed that I had to do extra steps in getting several documents to print all at once. Too many right clicks. This video definitely helped me change the file explorer functionality. The other youtube videos didn't address this change. THANK

[jay_kay_jay]

Thank you man! I was looking for a way to bring back the proper right click context menu. Also my Win11 file explorer was laggy as hell. Putting the ribbon back on has fixed it! It's now snappy and fast just like it was in Win10. Much appreciated.

[lokelaufeyson]

some things never change, install windows 10, "hack" or mod it to get another look or function.. windows 11: install it, "hack it" or mod it and change it into what you want.

It does sound familiar... buy a iphone and jailbreak it, install a different firmware... i see a connection there but i may be wrong.

I prefer to install a OS that i dont need to mod or "hack" to be functional but its what i prefer, whatever you prefer, i wish you the best in life.
Im happy i only have one windows computer to worry about, its a massive job to care for 3 computers with windows (i used to have 3 windows computers)

[bittertruthx]

Followed your steps religiously, but couldn't get file folder of windows 10. It remained as was in windows 11, which I loath.

[DMK]

Looks like the RegEdit mods don't work anymore. I addition, the WinAero app only provide temp/per session changes. Once you log out and log back in, the changes are gone. Lastly the vivetool method does not work. Any thoughts or ideas as to how to make changes permanent and what REALLY works?

[davinp]

I hate that Microsoft removed "move to folder" and "copy to folder" from the Windows 11 file explorer toolbar. This is a handy feature for people that move and copy files frequently

[SteveJones-qihn]

Thanks for that video. What I really wanted was to get back to having my list of files shown without have almost a full line in between each item. I found that under Advanced Settings, there is an option to "Decrease space between items". When I clicked that box and applied the change, it now looks like the way I must have had it set up in Windows 10.

[riskydigital]

Thank you man, u save my day 👍✨

Windows just evil change my explorer look, even no update etc.

[bittertruthx]

As usual, very valuable tip. I was looking for it. Thanks.

[NormanF]

That’s what I was looking for… the old interface! Only thing missing in file explorer is tabbed browsing. Someone may create a tweak to put the share tab back in. People just hate Microsoft for making unnecessary changes to Windows. It breaks people’s workflow and they have to spend time putting things back the way they were.

[danielforbes]

britec ive been watching you since college at 16 and now 10 years later youre still going strong my man well you practically taught be 50 percent of what i now know. also i didnt even take computers in college! i wanted to be a mechanic. love brother and merry xmas!

[TheWenmoo]

So grateful for this tutorial!!! thank you

[macehan]

Thankyou very much for this video and information.

[joemartinez]

Britectec09 thanks, your great. I just built a gaming PC. What a way different experience then gaming on a laptop or a console. I went from a HP Omen i7 7700hq GTX 1070 8gb, 32gb 2400 ram to MSI Z590-A, i5 11600k, RTX 3060 12gb, 32gb 4000 ram.

[ThomasGrillo]

At first, it didn't work, but I think I hand copied it wrong, and found the string in description, pasted it in, and got the old ribbon back. Thanks.

[BrandonKleeman]

can you get back the old file icons? I HATE the new icons. Sure they are pretty, but they lack all utility. You can no longer see what is in the folder before opening it in this design. everything looks the same and cant be identified at a glance