Original Windows File Manager (winfile) with enhancements
Windows File Manager (WinFile) is an enhanced version of the original Windows File Manager, designed to provide a modern yet familiar interface for managing files and folders across supported versions of Windows, including Windows 11. Built as a native application for x86, x64, and arm64 architectures, WinFile combines the simplicity of the classic file manager with contemporary features to meet the needs of today's users.
Key Features:
Native Performance: Runs natively on all currently supported versions of Windows, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility.
Enhanced Functionality: Built upon the original Windows File Manager from Windows NT 4.0, it includes modern enhancements while retaining its core simplicity.
Cross-Platform Support: Available for x86, x64, and arm64 architectures, making it versatile across different devices.
Installer Availability: Can be installed via winget, providing a convenient method for users to obtain the latest version.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for users who prefer a lightweight, no-frills file management tool. WinFile offers a reliable and intuitive way to navigate and manage files, making it particularly useful for those seeking a straightforward alternative to more complex file explorers.
This software is maintained as an archived project by Microsoft, focusing on preserving its functionality while encouraging community contributions through forks or pull requests.
README
Announcement: Repository to be archived on March 1, 2025
We realize this may come as a shock and disappointment to our contributors but we simply do not have the expertise or resources within the organization to continue to maintain this project.
While you may continue to work on your own private fork, remember that use of archived repositories are more risky from a security standpoint and caution should be taken.
Windows File Manager (WinFile)
The Windows File Manager lives again and runs as a native x86, x64 and arm64 desktop app
on all currently supported version of Windows, including Windows 11. I welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions.
There are two primary versions of the source code in the master branch:
original_plus tag: refers to the source for WinFile as of Windows NT4 with minimal changes
so that it compiles with Visual Studio and runs on current Windows.
current master: actively developed branch that consists of enhancements and additions to WinFile.
I will consider bugs fixes and suggestions for minor changes to the master branch. Feel free to create a pull request or post issues as you see fit.
I will not be changing the original_plus sources nor creating other branches for other purposes.
You are welcome to do that on your own.
Download The App
If you are running Windows 10, you can download the app from the store
If you just want to download the WinFile application without worrying about compiling from the source code, we have a number of pre-compiled versions available.
Please select the version which you would like to download.
Highlights of changes in each release are in CHANGES.md.
What it looks like
Contributing
Contributor License Agreement
As mentioned above, this project welcomes contributions and suggestions. Most contributions require you to agree to a
Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to, and actually do, grant us
the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit https://cla.microsoft.com.
When you submit a pull request, a CLA-bot will automatically determine whether you need to provide
a CLA and decorate the PR appropriately (e.g., label, comment). Simply follow the instructions
provided by the bot. You will only need to do this once across all repos using our CLA.
Windows File Manager (WinFile)
