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I'm switching from a Mac to a PC with Windows 10. Is there anyway (either 1st party or 3rd party) to make the File Explorer in Windows 10 look like Finder's column view in Mac OSX?

Windows 10 File Explorer looks like this: enter image description here

MacOSX Finder column view looks like this: enter image description here

I don't like how Windows displays a mix of drop down menus (seen in the left column) and standard folders, and I don't like how I can't see all the folders and files in the directories above mine--only in the topmost directory (seen in the lefthand column). This makes it much slower to switch between folders in different subdirectories, especially when you don't remember how many layers deep a file might be.

In contrast, with the Mac OSX Finder column view, all my directories at all levels are clearly visible in neat columns, and you can even enable it to show the path bar at the bottom, just like Windows shows at the top of the File Explorer.

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1
  • This won't alter how explorer works, but: open an explorer window, hit win+{left arrow}. Pick the folder you wan to dive into by using right-click+open in new window, win+{leftarrow}. Close the right window when you are done. This will at least preserve the state of the right-hand panes.
    – Yorik
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 17:47

4 Answers 4

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15

You can use One Commander, a free third party software.

Screenshot of column view:

enter image description here

I also found this alternative Winbrowser, which doesn't look as slick to me and seems like it's not as actively developed.

Screenshot of WinBrowser column view:

enter image description here

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9

As of 2021 there is only one option that doesn't require a third party software afaik.

  1. Open your File Explorer.
  2. Right-click on Quick Access and select Options
  3. Click on the View tab and then scroll down to Navigation Pane
  4. Select Expand to open folder and Show all folders

This will provide at least the ability to expand and preview subfolders on your sidebar navigation.

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3

I developed some software to do similar called ThatFile. It has column browser built in.

ThatFile on Windows App Store

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  • 16
    You should probably mention  that it’s not free.
    – Scott - Слава Україні
    Commented May 31, 2018 at 3:11
  • 2
    First of all, welcome to Super User! We are always glad to help, but you apparently have two Super User accounts: this one and this one. Please take the time to utilize the following Help Center tutorial and ask the Super User staff to merge your accounts: I accidentally created two accounts; how do I merge them?
    – Run5k
    Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 1:39
  • @Scott, Why though? Is it part of the question?
    – Sai Manoj Kumar Yadlapati
    Commented May 3, 2020 at 9:23
  • 6
    @SaiManojKumarYadlapati Not sure if it’s mentioned in the rules governing self-promotion, but it stands to reason that when asking someone to give you money, you should mention at some point that you’re asking them to give you money.
    – Frungi
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 4:42
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There is aprogram called EasyFile. I think it's the best user-friendly and simple solution for windows by now. And it's free at this time. The site is in German and I don't know if there's an English Version of the program available. But you could try it at least.

http://tooc.ch/

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  • Welcome to Super User! Please read How do I recommend software for some tips as to how you should go about recommending software. You should provide at least a link, some additional information about the software itself, and how it can be used to solve the problem in the question.
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Commented May 14, 2019 at 17:56

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