Windows' built-in File Explorer has genuinely improved in recent years — Windows 11 finally added tabbed browsing — but it still lags behind dedicated file manager alternatives for anyone who regularly moves, compares or organises large numbers of files. Several free tools add dual-pane browsing, more powerful search, and batch-renaming tools that make everyday file management noticeably faster.
Key takeaway: Files (the free, open-source Windows app) is the easiest drop-in upgrade to Explorer for most people, while Double Commander's dual-pane layout suits anyone who frequently copies or compares files between two folders side by side.
Files: a modern, free Explorer replacement
Files (previously known as "Files UWP", now simply "Files") is a free, open-source file manager available through the Microsoft Store, built specifically to modernise the Windows file-browsing experience. It offers tabbed browsing, a cleaner and more customisable layout, dual-pane support, cloud storage integration, and useful extras like a built-in file compression/extraction tool and quick previews. It's actively developed by a community of contributors and receives regular updates.
Double Commander: dual-pane power
Double Commander is a free, open-source, dual-pane file manager inspired by the classic Norton Commander/Total Commander style of interface — two side-by-side panels that make moving and comparing files between two locations far quicker than dragging windows around in standard Explorer. It's cross-platform, running on Windows, macOS and Linux, which is useful if your household mixes operating systems and you want one consistent tool across devices.
Tip: Dual-pane file managers like Double Commander are especially useful when reorganising a large folder of photos or documents — keep the "messy" folder open in one pane and your organised destination folders in the other, and drag between them without juggling multiple windows.
Why bother switching at all?
For light, occasional file browsing, Windows Explorer is perfectly adequate and there's no pressing need to change. The case for switching gets stronger the more files you handle regularly — sorting years of digital photos, managing a large document archive, or regularly comparing the contents of two folders (like an external backup drive against your main PC) are all noticeably faster with a dedicated tool.
Getting started
- For Files: search "Files" in the Microsoft Store (it's free, published by the open-source Files community, not a scam lookalike — check the publisher name matches "Files Community" or similar official listing).
- Install it and pin it to your Start menu or taskbar as your new default browsing tool.
- For Double Commander: download it from the official doublecmd.sourceforge.io site for your operating system.
- Install and open it — you'll see two side-by-side panels by default; navigate each independently using the address bar or folder tree in that panel.
- Practice moving files between panels using the on-screen Copy/Move buttons (F5/F6 by default) rather than drag-and-drop, which is often faster once you're used to the shortcut keys.
| Tool | Layout | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Files | Modern tabbed single-pane (dual-pane optional) | Windows only |
| Double Commander | Classic dual-pane | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Windows File Explorer | Tabbed single-pane | Windows only (built-in) |
Before you start: download Double Commander only from doublecmd.sourceforge.io, and install Files only through the official Microsoft Store listing — searching generic terms like "file manager download" in a web browser can surface unrelated, lower-quality, or ad-laden software.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it safe to replace Windows Explorer entirely?
- You can't fully replace Explorer at a system level (it also manages your desktop and taskbar), but you can use an alternative file manager as your default for day-to-day browsing while Explorer continues running in the background as normal.
- Which is better for a beginner: Files or Double Commander?
- Files, since its single-pane, tabbed layout is closer to what most people are already used to from Explorer. Double Commander's dual-pane approach is more powerful but takes a little longer to get comfortable with.
- Do these tools work on Linux too?
- Double Commander does, and runs natively on most major Linux distributions. Files is Windows-only; Linux users looking for a similar dual-pane experience often use alternatives built into their distribution's file manager, or tools like Krusader.