Microsoft is making some subtle changes to File Explorer to simplify and speed up navigation.
The changes, spotted in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build, will redesign the menu that appears when you right-click to make it shorter and hide select actions in new submenus.
For example, the new design moves image file options—including Compress to…, Copy as path, Rotate right, Rotate left, and Set as desktop background—into a Manage file menu.
That takes Microsoft’s options in the first menu from 16 to 12. There will likely be a learning curve for some users, but Microsoft says the changes will make it easier to use. It also notes that it may eventually change the name from Manage file to something else.
The current menu (left) and the changes. (Credit: Microsoft)
There are other changes depending on the file type. The option for uploading cloud-based options now includes a submenu for Always Keep on this Device and Free Up Space.
As part of the update, Microsoft also preloads elements of File Explorer to improve speeds. “This shouldn’t be visible to you, outside of File Explorer hopefully launching faster when you need to use it,” Microsoft says.
Recommended by Our Editors
The feature can be disabled under File Explorer’s Folder Options > View > Enable window preloading for faster launch times. If you’ve got an older computer that can sometimes struggle with Windows 11, this should make the options within File Explorer easier to use. It probably won’t make a major difference if you’ve got a more powerful machine.
An exact release date for both features to reach the final version of Windows 11 remains unclear.
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Our Expert
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.