At the Build 2023 developer conference, Microsoft showed off a major update to Explorer for Windows 11, which is currently under development. The company wants to make the application more modern by using controls that match the design of the operating system.
This is not the first update of the “Explorer” in recent times. For example, in 2021 Microsoft replaced the Ribbon UI with a modern header bar, and in 2022 it added support for a tabbed interface. Otherwise, it’s the old Explorer, the design of which has not changed significantly since Windows 7.
This time, Microsoft has decided to completely redesign Explorer, adding rounded controls, blur effects, and more. For this purpose, the application is transferred to the Windows App SDK.
Among the changes we can mention the new “Information” panel, updated view of folders in the window, redesigned address bar and search bar, and action buttons will again be located under the address bar. Work is also underway on the new “Gallery” section, which can already be assessed by Windows Insider members.
