Before the Windows 11 22H2 update, opening multiple folders in File Explorer meant juggling several separate windows on your desktop. If you needed to compare files between two locations or drag items between directories, you had to carefully position windows side by side. With dozens of open folders, the taskbar became cluttered with identical File Explorer icons, making it difficult to find the right window.
Windows 11 now supports tabs in File Explorer, working similarly to tabs in a web browser. You can open multiple folders as tabs within a single File Explorer window, switch between them instantly, and drag tabs to rearrange them — all without cluttering your desktop or taskbar.
How to Open a New Tab in File Explorer
There are several ways to open a new tab:
Keyboard Shortcut
Press Ctrl + T to open a new tab in the current File Explorer window. The new tab opens to your default location (usually “Home” or “Quick Access”). This is the fastest method and works identically to opening a new tab in Chrome or Edge.
Plus Button
Click the + button at the top of the File Explorer window, next to the existing tabs. A new tab appears immediately.
Middle-Click a Folder
Middle-click (press the scroll wheel) on any folder to open it in a new tab. This is extremely useful when browsing a directory and you want to explore a subfolder without losing your place in the current view.
Right-Click Context Menu
Right-click on any folder and select Open in new tab. This works on folders in the main file list, in the sidebar navigation, and in Quick Access.
Switching Between Tabs
Click on any tab at the top of the File Explorer window to switch to it. You can also use keyboard shortcuts:
- Ctrl + Tab — Switch to the next tab.
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab — Switch to the previous tab.
- Ctrl + 1, Ctrl + 2, Ctrl + 3 (etc.) — Switch directly to a specific tab by its position number.
These keyboard shortcuts match the standard tab navigation used in web browsers, so if you already know how to switch Chrome tabs, you already know how to switch File Explorer tabs.
Closing Tabs
- Ctrl + W — Close the currently active tab.
- Click the X button on any tab to close it.
- Middle-click a tab to close it instantly.
If you close the last remaining tab, the entire File Explorer window closes. If you accidentally close a tab, there is unfortunately no built-in “reopen closed tab” shortcut (unlike web browsers). You will need to navigate back to the folder manually.
Rearranging Tabs
You can drag and drop tabs within the tab bar to reorder them. Click and hold on a tab, then drag it to a new position. This is useful when you want to group related folders next to each other.
Moving Tabs Between Windows
If you want to split a tab into its own separate window (for example, to place it on a second monitor), drag the tab downward away from the tab bar. The tab will detach and become a standalone File Explorer window.
To merge a tab back into another window, drag it from the standalone window’s tab bar onto the tab bar of the destination window. The tab will reattach.
Practical Workflows Using File Explorer Tabs
File Organisation
Open your unsorted Downloads folder in one tab and your organised Documents folder structure in another. Drag files from the Downloads tab to the Documents tab to sort them, without needing to position two windows side by side.
Project Work
If you are working on a project that involves files spread across multiple locations (design assets in one folder, source code in another, documentation in a third), open each location as a tab. You can quickly switch between them without losing your place.
Comparing Folder Contents
Open two similar folders in separate tabs. Switch between them to compare their contents. While this is not a true side-by-side comparison (you would need two separate windows for that), it is much faster than opening and closing individual windows.
Backup and Transfer
Open your local drive in one tab and an external USB drive or network location in another. Drag files between tabs to copy or move them.
Limitations of File Explorer Tabs
- No tab groups: Unlike Chrome, File Explorer does not support grouping or colour-coding tabs. All tabs exist in a single flat row.
- No session restore: If you close File Explorer, all tabs are lost. There is no option to restore your previous tabs when you reopen the application.
- No pinned tabs: You cannot pin frequently used folders as permanent tabs.
- No duplicate tab shortcut: There is no keyboard shortcut to duplicate the current tab. You need to open a new tab and manually navigate to the same folder.
- No drag-and-drop between tabs: You cannot drag a file from the file list directly onto another tab to move it there. You need to drag the file to the tab header first, wait for the tab to switch, and then drop the file in the destination folder.
Tips for Getting the Most from File Explorer Tabs
- Use middle-click extensively: Middle-clicking folders to open them in new tabs is the fastest way to explore a directory structure without losing your current view.
- Learn the keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + T, Ctrl + W, and Ctrl + Tab will significantly speed up your file management.
- Keep tab count manageable: File Explorer tabs do not have the same memory management features as browser tabs. Each open tab maintains a live connection to the file system, so having dozens of tabs open can slow things down, especially on network drives.
- Combine with Snap Layouts: If you need a true side-by-side view, open two File Explorer windows (each with their own tabs) and use Windows 11 Snap Layouts to position them neatly.
File Explorer tabs are a long-overdue feature that significantly improves how you manage files on Windows 11. Once you start using them, managing files without tabs feels painfully slow.