How To Manage Multiple File Explorer Windows Seamlessly in Windows 11

Opening multiple File Explorer windows in Windows 11 might sound trivial, but it’s honestly a game-changer for handling lots of files or comparing folders side by side. Because of course, Windows has to make it a little harder than necessary — there’s no fancy button for “open another window” on the taskbar, you kinda have to know the tricks.

How to Open Multiple File Explorer Windows in Windows 11

If you want to open a second (or third, or more) File Explorer, these steps will get you there. It’s all about having those separate windows so you can drag files around, compare stuff, or just keep an eye on a few folders at once without the chaos of one window trying to show everything.

Step 1: Open the First File Explorer Window

Just click on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, or hit Windows key + E. That opens your standard window showing the Quick Access view — the usual mix of your pinned folders, recent files, whatever.

This part’s pretty straightforward, but on some setups, this sometimes defaults to a different view or takes a second to load. Not sure why it works sometimes, but a reboot can fix weirdness here.

Step 2: Open a New File Explorer Window

Right-click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar, then choose “File Explorer” again from the menu. It’s kinda hidden — Windows didn’t make this obvious. The second window opens up separately, not just a tab or anything, so now you can move files between them with drag and drop.

This trick is clutch if you’re juggling multiple folders and don’t want to keep clicking back and forth. On one set-up it works perfectly; on another, I had to repeat the right-click a couple times for it to actually open a second window. Typical Windows stuff.

Step 3: Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Open More Windows

While a File Explorer window is active, just press Ctrl + N. Bam, another window pops up instantly. Super handy if you’re already deep into exploring folders and don’t want to reach for the mouse every time. Just remember, this works best if you’ve already got one window open — if you try Ctrl + N from anywhere else, nothing happens.

On some machines, this shortcut feels a little slow or sometimes bugs out after a few open/close cycles. I’ve noticed that closing all explorer windows and reopening can clear that up, just don’t ask me why.

Step 4: Arrange Windows Side by Side

Now that you’ve got multiple windows, drag one to the left or right edge of your screen. Windows 11’s fancy snap assist will kick in, and the window will snap into place. Click on another window to fill the other half. It’s a quick way to compare or transfer stuff without fuss.

If this doesn’t work right away, make sure snap assist is enabled in Settings > System > Multitasking. Sometimes, it gets toggled off accidentally and then, you know, nothing snaps. Honestly, this is a lifesaver sometimes, especially if you’ve got a big monitor or multiple screens.

Step 5: Explore More Settings

If you click on the View tab in each explorer window, you can tweak how files are shown — icons, list, details, whatever. Playing with these views can make scanning through hundreds of files less painful. You can also customize Quick Access and Folder Options from File > Options to set default views, hide recent files, or change sidebar behaviors.

And hey, check out the shortcuts like Alt + D to jump to the address bar quickly, or Ctrl + W to close a window if you’re done with it. Because of course, Windows has to make it just a little complicated.

Once you’ve got these tricks down, managing multiple folders becomes way less annoying. Especially if you handle a lot of files or do some serious comparison work.

Tips for Opening Multiple File Explorer Windows in Windows 11

Use Windows key + Tab to see all open windows and switch around quick.
If you’re repeatedly opening the same folders, pin them to Quick Access — it’s in the sidebar, just drag folders there or right-click and choose Pin to Quick Access.
Virtual desktops are your friends — keep workspaces separate if you’re juggling a bunch of projects.
The Quick Access toolbar at the top (if you have it enabled) can be customized with your most-used commands for even faster access — just right-click and add.
Familiarize yourself with other shortcuts — for example, Alt + P toggles the preview pane, which can be a timesaver.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I close multiple File Explorer windows at once?

Sadly, there’s no built-in “close all” for explorer, but if you want to shut everything quickly, right-click the explorer icon on the taskbar and choose Close all windows. Or, better, press Alt + F4 in each window, which on one desktop worked like a charm, but on another, I had to do it one by one.

Can I open File Explorer directly into a specific folder by default?

Yep. Right-click the File Explorer icon, choose Properties, then in the Target field, add the folder path at the end like `C:\Windows\explorer.exe C:\YourFolder`. Now, clicking that shortcut opens directly in your favorite spot.

Not sure why this isn’t the default, but hey, Windows prefers choices.

Is there a limit to how many Windows I can open?

Practically? No. But performance-wise, be cautious — opening dozens of tabs or windows can slow things down real quick, especially on older PCs.

How to run File Explorer as Admin?

Right-click the File Explorer icon, then choose Run as administrator. You might get a prompt, and then you can do some advanced stuff like deleting system folders or configuring network shares.

Changing default view?

Go to View > Options, then set your preferred layout, and hit Apply to Folders. That’ll keep your favorite view whenever you open new windows. It’s not perfect — sometimes it reverts — but it’s better than nothing.

Summary

Click File Explorer icon or press Windows + E
Right-click taskbar icon, pick “File Explorer” to open new windows
Use Ctrl + N inside an open window for instant new one
Drag windows to screen edges for snapping
Adjust views in the “View” tab, or tweak folder options for your style

Conclusion

Getting the hang of opening multiple Explorer windows can seriously boost productivity, especially if you work with a lot of files or compare folders. It’s not the most intuitive process, but once it clicks, it’s a lifesaver. Whether you’re moving files around or just keeping an eye on different folders, juggling multiple windows turns an annoyance into a proper workflow.

And yeah, don’t forget to explore some shortcuts and snap settings — Windows 11 has some decent tools if you dig into them. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a little time or frustration.