Search the Community

Makers of the Files app, the feature-packed third-party file manager for Windows, recently released the preview version of the app in the Microsoft Store. Like the Windows Insider Program allows users to test new features before their public rollout, Files Preview serves as a testing ground for new features ahead of their release. With the latest update, version 3.8.13, Files Preview received a new layout, thumbnail improvements, and more. Files Preview now has a new Cards View layout, which replaces Tiles View. Cards View shows more details about files and folders, like file name, type, size, modification date, dimensions (for images), duration (media files), tags, sync status, and more. You can switch to the new Cards View by clicking the "Layout" button on the toolbar and selecting "Cards." Files Preview 3.8.13 also adds some upgrades for file thumbnails. They are now properly in sync with the layout size and have proper DPI awareness. The rest of the changelog includes the following: The new Cards Layout and other improvements are expected in the next Files update, version 3.9. Meanwhile, you can check out the latest update (version 3.8) in our dedicated article. Files Preview is available for $6.29 in the Microsoft Store. You can also get the app for free from the official website. The preview version works alongside the stable release, so you can keep it side-by-side with the regular version. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Files, a third-party file manager for Windows 10 and 11, received a new update. Version 3.7.11 is not a major release with many new features (it builds on version 3.7, which was released in early September), but it still packs some welcome changes, such as the ability to rename multiple files at once, improvements for certain dialog windows, and bug fixes. The most notable change in Files 3.7.11 is the bulk file renaming. You can select a range of files to rename and press F2 or click the Rename button on the toolbar. Next, Files will prompt you to enter the new name and then number all the selected files accordingly. This applies not only to files but also to folders. Another improvement in Files 3.7.11 is a slightly reworked "Create new item" dialog window, which now displays the type of item being created instead of a generic "Enter an item name" message. Finally, the About page now has the option to copy the User ID. This should help developers debug the app and find crash reports. Here is the rest of the changelog: The update is now available for customers who side-load Files using the installer from the official website, and it will soon land in the Microsoft Store for everyone else. The app is free if downloaded from its website, but you can also purchase it in the Microsoft Store to support development. Source RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of September): 4,292 news posts

The Files app has been updated to version 3.3, just one month after its last release. Version 3.3 is now available for download with two main changes: a reworked layout slider and thumbnail improvements, including better DPI support. In addition, the update contains multiple fixes for other parts of the application. What is new in Files 3.3? Redesigned layout picker. The new layout picker now features a single row of larger buttons with the current option highlighted. There is also a new slider that lets you manually tweak the item sizes for different views, such as List, Grid, Columns, etc. Thumbnail improvements. Users should now encounter fewer issues with thumbnails. In addition, the app now displays a neat animation when thumbnail loading takes longer. Finally, icons on the home page, tabs, and sidebar received proper DPI support. New layout settings. The settings page now features a dedicated page for layout options. Previously, those options were located in the Folders page. Continue where you left off. This feature now works when you restart Windows. Previously, it only worked if you closed the app before restarting the system. Here is the rest of the changelog: You can download Files 3.3 from the Microsoft Store. The $8.99 price tag is there to support developers, but they also let everyone download the Files app for free from their official website. Source

If you're looking for a File Explorer replacement, the Files app is what you need, and here's how to get started. On Windows 11, if you're looking for an alternative to File Explorer, the Files is the app you want to use. Files (or Files App, as listed in the Microsoft Store) is an open-source file manager designed to be more modern and easier to use than the default manager built into the operating system. In addition to the sleek design and intuitive interface, the Files app includes many of the same features as File Explorer, plus several powerful features to browse and manage files and folders on Windows 11. (The app also works on Windows 10.) For example, in addition to a similar design with tabs, a left navigation pane, a toolbar, an address bar, and a search box, this application includes a split mode to view two folders side by side on the same window, a tagging system to organize your contents, archival support to compress and extract files like ".zip," ".rar," and ".7z." The app also offers a modern settings interface to customize virtually every aspect of the experience, including the ability to change the appearance, customize folder views, backup and restore settings, and much more. In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through the steps to get started with the app, from installing it to navigating the interface and highlighting the features you won't find on File Explorer. Getting started with the Files app on Windows 11 Since this is a third-party application, you will have to get it from the Microsoft Store. After the installation, you can launch the app from the Start menu to get started. Here's how. Install Files app To install the Files App on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Microsoft Store. Search for "Files Apps" (by Yair A) and open the app's page. Click the "Get" or "Install" button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Once you complete the steps, the new file manager will be installed on your computer and work alongside File Explorer. Navigating Files app To open the Files app, open "Start," search for the app, and launch it like with any other application. (You can right-click the icon in the Taskbar and select the "Pin to taskbar" option for quicker access.) When you first launch Files, you will notice it includes an interface very similar to File Explorer, available on Windows 11, but with some elements and features that make this file manager stand out. On the left, you'll find the navigation pane with access to the "Home" page (the default startup page) and access to "Favorites" locations, "Drives," and "WSL." File Explorer only integrates with OneDrive, but Files integrates with many cloud storage services, such as OneDrive, Apple's iCloud, and Google Drive. (You only need to have the storage client already installed on the device to appear under "Cloud Drives." If you install the sync client after adding Files, you may need to restart the computer.) (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Also, under "Tags," you can navigate those files that added tags from the item's properties. At the top, you can open and close tabs. You can drag tabs out to create another window, but you cannot drag a window into another window to convert it into a tab. As part of the header, on the left side, you have navigation controls (back, forth, up, and refresh), an address bar to browse any location, and a search box. One difference from File Explorer is that Files includes an option (gear button) on the right to access the settings page. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Immediately beneath the header, you will find the toolbar with all the common features, such as cut, copy, rename, paste, share, delete, and access to the file or folder properties. On the right side, Files includes the options to sort content, change the layout, and open the preview pane on the right side. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Finally, at the bottom, you will find information about the location, including the number of items in the current view, the number of selected items, and their size. If you know your way around File Explorer, you already know the basics to get around Files. Files also support mounting network drives from the "Home" page. (Image credit: Future) Furthermore, the context menu available with Files is more advanced than the one on File Explorer. For example, when you right-click an executable, the menu offers more options, including running the application as a different user. The "Show more options" is a submenu with access to other options instead of switching to the legacy context menu like on File Explorer. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Change general settings To change some of the behaviors of the app, including startup, context menu, and widgets, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button on the top-right corner. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Click on General. Use the "Startup settings" option to choose whether the file manager should always launch on a new tab, continue where you left off, or use a specific location or drive. (Image credit: Future) Quick note: If you select a specific location, you will have the option to browse and choose the new location. Use the "Widgets" setting to decide the items ("Quick access," "Drives," "Tags," and "Recent files") to display on the "Home" page. Use the "Context menu options" setting to customize some of the items in the context menu (such as new tab, window, and pane). (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Quick note: The "Move shell extensions into a submenu" shows every possible item on a scrollable menu instead of a submenu. After you complete the steps, the settings will apply according to your configuration. Customize appearance To change the appearance of the Files app, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner. Click on Appearance. Choose the colour mode, including "Dark," "Light," or "Default" (matches the system colour mode) from the "Theme" setting. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) (Optional) Select the style design technology, including "Mica Alt" or "Acrylic." Choose one of the colours to change the colour of the entire interface using the "Background" setting. Once you complete the steps, the new customization settings will apply to the file manager. It's important to note that the Files app will use the Windows 11 accent colour for some elements, such as icons and buttons, across the experience. Set Files as system default To make the Files app the default file manager on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner. Click on Advanced. Under the "Experimental features flags" section, turn on the "Set files as the default file manager" toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will make Files the new default experience to manage files. However, this action will not uninstall File Explorer. Export and import settings One of the advantages of the Files app is that you can back up and restore the settings on the same or another computer. Export settings To export the Files app settings on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner. Click on Advanced. Click the Export settings option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Select the location to save the application configuration file on your computer. Click the Save button. Once you complete the steps, the application will export the entire configuration in a ".zip" file that you can save to restore or take the settings to another computer. Import settings To import the file manager settings, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner. Click on Advanced. Click the Import settings option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Select the configuration file from your computer. Click the Open button. After you complete the steps, the settings will import automatically. It's not required to restart the app, but it's recommended. Organize files and folders with tags Although you can use tags on File Explorer, they are only meant for searching for files. The Files app includes a tagging system that allows you to set specific tags to any file or folder and quickly access these contents from the navigation pane, similar to the feature available on macOS. The app comes with four tags by default, including "Home," "Work," "Photos," and "Important," but you can add as many tags as you need. To tag a file or folder, right-click the item, open the "Edits tags" submenu, and choose the tag. To add or remove tags, use these steps: Open Files. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner. Click on Tags. Click the New tag button. (Image credit: Future) Confirm a name and colour for the tag. Click the Create button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) (Optional) Click the Edit button to change the tag's name. (Optional) Click the Delete button to remove a tag. Once you complete the steps, you can start tagging documents, files, and folders. Customize folder view When using the Files app, you can customize the view for each location using the "Layout," "Sort," and "Selection options." The "Layout" menu gives you the option to change the view, similar to File Explorer, using details, tiles, and different sizes of icons. The "Columns" option allows you to drill between folders in columns, similar to Finder on macOS. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) You can also show or hide extensions, show hidden files, and use the "Adaptive layout" that allows the app to adjust its layout to fit different screen and window sizes automatically. The "Sort" menu allows you to sort and group content based on different criteria. Finally, the "Selection options" can be used to select items. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) The "Preview" feature is the equivalent to the "Details" page on File Explorer, and it allows you to show details about the files and preview the contents of an item. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) The "See more" (three dots) menu in the top right allows you to open a new pane or window or turn the compact overlay on or off. (Image credit: Future) In addition to these controls, the file manager allows you to manage the folder views through the Settings > Folders page. On this page, you can sync the layout and sorting configurations across folders globally. The "Details layout columns" settings allow you to determine the information available using the "Details" layout. For example, you can show or hide tags, sizes, dates, etc. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Similarly, the "Sorting and grouping" settings allow you to configure some default settings for sorting and grouping. For example, you can set the default "Sort by" and "Group by" options. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) You can also use the "Layout mode" setting to choose the default mode, including "Details," "Tiles," "Columns," "Icon grid," and "Adaptive layout." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Under the "Display" settings, you can configure hidden items and extension preferences, manage thumbnails, and more. (Image credit: Future) Finally, under the "Behaviors" section, you can control the action of opening items (double or single click), disabling deletion confirmation, and warning changing extensions. Some other unique options include the ability to select files and folders when hovering and double-click a blank space to go up a folder. Open and extract archival formats The Files app offers support for compressing and extracting files using ".zip," ".rar," and ".7z" using a 7-zip integration. Starting on Windows 11 version 23H2 through the integration of the "libarchive" open-source project, File Explorer now supports viewing and extracting ".zip," ".rar," and ".7z" archival formats. The difference with the integration in the Files app is that you can also create archival formats and even extract files with encryption, since there's an option to confirm the password to access the contents. Extract archival format To open and extract archival formats through Files, use these steps: Open Files. Open the folder containing the archival formats. Double-click the ".zip," ".rar," or ".7z" file format to open its content. Click the Extract button from the toolbar and select the Extract files option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Confirm the extraction path. Confirm the archival password (if necessary). Check the "Open destination folder when complete" option. Click the Extract button. (Image credit: Future) Once you complete the steps, the process will begin, and the file manager will present the location with the extracted content. Create archival format To create a ".zip" or ".7z." archival with Files, use these steps: Open Files. Open the folder containing the files and folders. Select the items. Right-click the selection, choose Compress, and select the Create archive option. (Image credit: Future) Confirm a name for the archival. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Select the format, either ".zip" or ".7z." Choose the compression level (if applicable). Quick note: The default section is almost always recommended. (Optional) Configure the split side. Quick note: The "Splitting size" option allows you to break a large file into smaller pieces. (Optional) Choose an encryption password. Click the Create button. After you complete the steps, Files using 7-zip will start the compression of the files. The Files app is an excellent alternative for those who want a more modern and different (but yet similar) file manager experience. It's a fantastic app, considering that it's an open-source project, and it includes all the essential tools that you come to expect, plus many additional features that make Files stand out over File Explorer. For example, in my opinion, the interface has a more well-done design, and the integration of archival formats seems more mature than one in File Explorer. Although Files is a solid alternative for Windows 11 (and 10) users, while I was testing and writing this guide, I noticed that it is slower in some tasks compared to File Explorer. For example, thumbnails take longer to load, and the overall browsing experience is a bit sluggish. Source

The Files app, a popular third-party file explorer for Windows 10 and 11, received a major update under version 3.0. It is now available for download from the official website and the Microsoft Store, bringing customers a redesigned interface, modern copy-paste progress dialogs, Office documents preview, built-in commands, faster performance, new icons, and more. What is new in the Files app v3? New icons. Files v3 features brand-new icons for stable and preview builds, each featuring its distinct colour. The public version is yellow (to retain familiarity with the stock File Explorer), while the developer and preview are purple and blue. New design. The Files app now has a more modern user interface with a rounded files area, adjusted background opacity, and a reworked from the ground-up sidebar. In addition, files pinned to the sidebar have a distinct icon. Modern copy-paste dialogs. This change will delight those unhappy with the outdated copy-paste progress dialogs in the stock File Explorer. You can click the progress icon in the upper-right corner of the app to check out the status of your current procedure. Office files preview. You can preview Office documents in the preview pane. Select a file, open the pane, and tap "Preview." The Files app can also preview other file formats with registered shell preview handlers. Command Palette. The Files app v3 has a built-in command system that lets you execute various actions using quick commands. Press Ctrl + Shift + P and type the action you need, such as "Create new folder," "Group items by date created," "Create a ZIP archive," etc. Keep in the background. With the latest update, you can keep the File app running in the background to reduce its launch time. Here are other changes in the Files app v3: You can download the Files app v3 for free from the official website. Alternatively, you can purchase it in the Microsoft Store to support developers. Source

The Files App, a popular third-party file manager for Windows 10 and 11, has received an update to version 2.5. It is a major release with new features, UI improvements, bug fixes, and other changes. The most notable changes include the return of the Acrylic material, navigation gestures, and Git integration. And as usual, there is a list of fixes and minor improvements to make the app better and more reliable. What is new in Files 2.5? Files 2.5 restores the previously missing Acrylic material for the app's backdrop, so now you can switch between Mica Alt and Acrylic. For those unaware, Mica Alt uses only your desktop wallpaper to generate the background, which remains unchanged regardless of what you place behind the window. Acrylic, on the other hand, is more dynamic (and resource-taxing) and can react to other objects on the screen. Here is what The Files App looks like with Mica Alt and Acrylic and a File Explorer window behind: Mica Alt Acrylic Another change in version 2.5 is gestures support. You can now swipe left or right to navigate back and forward on touch-enabled PCs and laptops. Gestures support is one of those strange omissions in the default File Explorer, so The Files App now provides a much better experience in this regard. Developers will be happy to learn about a couple of new Git features that make it easier to work with repositories: The branch name is now displayed on the status bar Checkout remote branches, and switch between local branches from the branches flyout Pull commits from remote repositories using the ‘Pull’ button on the status bar Create new branches Track changes with the Git columns in the details layout The developer says more Git features are planned, so stay tuned for future updates. Finally, the latest update befriends the app with SeerPro, a third-party tool that lets you preview files by pressing the Spacebar key. You can learn more about SeerPro on its official website. Here is the rest of the changelog for The Files App 2.5: Changes and Improvements: Preview and Details Pane: The preview and detail panes are now separated into two. Users can switch between the two panes using the new pivot control. Additionally, the preview will now stretch to fill the available space in the pane. Improved the layout when the preview pane is in the horizontal orientation. Display and edit metadata of multiple files: Display and edit metadata of multiple files in the properties window. Previously it was only possible to edit metadata for a single file at a time. Bug fixes: Fixed issue with network locations not appearing on the sidebar Fixed crash when previewing large html or svg files Fixed crash when previewing PDFs in RTL languages Fixed issue where the progress bar overlapped the title in ongoing operations Fixed issue where the icons and names of libraries were not displayed in the details layout Fixed issue with some date formats not reflecting the language settings Fixed issue where the delete confirmation sometimes took a while to open Fixed issue where pinned favorites were sometimes displayed twice Fixed issue where right clicking an empty space didn’t clear the selected files Fixed issue where extracting files sometimes failed Fixed issue with the focus sometimes flickering in the column layout Fixed issue with pasting folders from Remote Desktop Fixed issue where the tab sometimes had the wrong icon Fixed contrast issues with the preview pane icon Fixed issue where the details pane would sometimes fail to load Fixed issue where renaming folders in the columns layout would open the folder Fixed issue with selecting multiple items in the column layout Fixed issue where add item was disabled in column layout Fixed position of ongoing operations flyout Fixed crash with the properties window You can download The Files App from the Microsoft Store. Those wanting to trial early updates can navigate to the project's official website to download the preview release. Files App 2.5 brings Acrylic backgrounds, navigation gestures, and more

The Files App, a modern and feature-packed File Explorer alternative for Windows, has received another update with several notable changes. Version 2.4.40 is now available for download from the Microsoft Store, bringing a much-needed tags editor, context menu improvements, and other enhancements across the app. What is new in the Files App 2.4.40? A built-in tags editor is the highlight of the release. Before version 2.4.40, creating and editing tags required working with a JSON file, which is not the most user-friendly variant. Now the Files App features a built-in UI that lets you create and edit tags. You can apply created tags to files and folders and keep track of them using the recently introduced tags widget or search (for example, tag:important). Another change in the Files App 2.4.40 is improved context menus. They no longer change their size when shell extensions finish loading. Instead, the app uses a loading indicator to inform the user about shell extensions getting ready for work. Besides, widgets on the home page now support shell extensions. The app also allows customizing the context menu and disabling options, such as "Open in new tab" and "Open in new window." Here is the complete changelog: Added a settings page for editing tags Made it easier to remove tags from files in the details layout The context menu height no longer changes when shell extensions finish loading Added shell extensions when right clicking widgets on the home page Refreshed the icons in the toolbar and right click context menu Moved the context menu settings to the preferences page Added support for hiding the open in new tab/window options from the right click context menu Added keyboard shortcut to open Windows Terminal as administrator Fixed issue with resizing the status column Fixed an issue where items would sometimes be selected when they shouldn't have been Fixed an issue where the option to hide details in the preview pane wasn't working Fixed the "not a folder" message that would show after changing the language Fixed an issue where shell extensions wouldn't show when right clicking in archives Fixed an issue where the right click menu sometimes had multiple separator lines when there should have only been one Fixed issue where the tab icons weren't showing The Files App is available in the Microsoft Store for $9.99. You can also download the pre-release version from the official website and test the upcoming updates that will bring even more improvements to the context menus. Files 2.4.40 is out with tags editor, improved context menus, and other changes

Last month, the Files App, which won the 2022 Microsoft Store award for best file management, received a preview update. In that update, the app was migrated over from UWP to the more modern Windows App SDK. Now, the update, version 2.4, is out of preview and available for download. Aside from that, the latest update also features many many changes, fixes, and improvements. For example, Files App on Windows 10 now has the Windows 11-style grid and details layout with rounded corners. So in case you are still a Windows 10 user and like the look and feel of Windows 11, you could try this update. New Windows 11-styled rounded corner Grid and Details layout in Files v2.4 The full changelog may be the biggest we have seen from any recent Files update. You can find the full release notes below on the app's GitHub page (linked at the end of the article) but here are the main improvements and fixes: Changes in v2.4** Added support for changing the default layout mode Added support for changing the default sorting and grouping options Added a tooltip with storage information when hovering over drives Added an extract archive button to the toolbar when viewing archives Fixed issue where the default file manager option would affect other user accounts Fixed issue where sidebar icons were blurry Added menu option to compress items into archive Display recent searches when clicking on the search box Display error message when shortcut target cannot be found Added option to set the default column sizes in the details layout Fixed issue where right click didn't always select the file/folder hovered over Auto select the folder option on the add item dialog Added setting to select files and folders on mouse hover Updated the listview/gridview styles on Windows 10 Display prompt when user doesn't have permission to access a folder Added support for creating and extracting password protected archives You can download the Files App version 2.4 from Microsoft Store. The same is also available on GitHub. Files App goes from UWP to WinAppSDK, some Window 10 features get the Windows 11 touch

The Files App, a popular feature-packed file manager for Windows 10 and 11, has received a new update to version 2.4.30. The latest release contains several notable improvements to improve your experience and make switching between the app and stock File Explorer more seamless. What is new in Files App 2.4.30? Version 2.4.30 has an enhanced home page with a revamped Quick Access section. It now allows pinning and unpinning folders alongside your frequently accessed directories. Besides, the update enables Quick Access sync with File Explorer, allowing you to see the same content in both applications for a more seamless and consistent experience. There is also a new Tags widget for faster access to all tagged files. The Tags widget replaces old Bundles, but the latter will remain in the app to give customers time for the transition. The sidebar in Files now supports sync, ensuring your favorite folders and items appear in the Files App and File Explorer without the need to pin them manually in each application. Files users can rename files and folders faster with an improved renaming experience. Press the Tab and Shift + Tab to switch between files and folders. Shell extensions have been moved to a submenu when you right-click a file. The change improves the performance and makes the menu size more predictable. Note that you can restore the original behavior in settings. A new credential prompt when connecting to an SMB allows you to enter the login information and save it in Windows Credential Manager to avoid entering it every time you connect. Here is the complete changelog that also includes various fixes and other noteworthy changes: Show error when a shortcut can't be created Use the tab key to select the next file while renaming Added a file tags widget, this will eventually replace the bundles widget Added support for hiding the edit tags menu Added support for hiding the edit tags menu Sync pinned favorites with File Explorer Display file size in the tooltip when hovering over files Added bitrate info to the properties window for audio files Moved shell extensions to a sub menu when right clicking files, you can change this behavior from settings if you prefer having shell extensions in the main menu Moved shell extensions to a sub menu when right clicking files, you can change this behavior from settings if you prefer having shell extensions in the main menu Display recent folders in the folders widget Add support for Autodesk drive Prompt for credentials when connecting smb Fixed issue with showing a negative elapsed time in case of a future timestamp Fixed wrong date format when language was set to Default Fixed issue with environment variables not working for shortcuts Fixed issue with creating new archives in a library Fixed issue where multiselect broke open with single click Fixed an issue where the menu for adding pages to startup was empty Fixed a crash that would happen when copying files from 7zip he official website. Alternatively, you can support the developer by purchasing the program in the Microsoft Store for $8.99. Those with the necessary skills can contribute to the project's development on GitHub. Files App 2.4.30 is out with favorites and recents sync, tags widget, and better renaming

The Files app is an excellent alternative for those unhappy with somewhat lackluster upgrades for Windows 11's stock File Explorer. The program comes with features you may find lacking in File Explorer and gets frequent updates with new capabilities and improvements. The latest preview update has added a neat widget on the home page, allowing you to access tagged files much more quickly. You can enable the tags widget in Files Preview version 2.4.26.0. Go to Files' Settings > Preferences > Widgets and toggle on the Tags option. Return to the Home page, and you will see a new section with all the tagged files and folders (right-click a file or folder and select Edit Tags to assign a tag). You can customize tags in the Advanced > Experimental feature flags section. The Files app should get the new tags widget in the stable release in a couple of weeks. According to recent reports, Microsoft is also working on a tagging system for the stock File Explorer as a part of an extensive rejuvenation. That feature upgrade has yet to materialize and go through the Windows Insiders program, so users can get the features they want in the Files app right now. The Files app is available on the official website for free. If you want to support the developer so that they keep releasing frequent updates, purchase Files in the Microsoft Store for $8.99. Those wishing to test preview updates for the Files app can download the pre-release version from the official website (it can run side-by-side with the stable release without issues). If you want to learn about other must-have apps for Windows 11 and 10, check out our recent "Top 11 apps every Windows 11 user should have" article. Files app preview gets a dedicated widget for tags