When it comes to something as fundamental as File Explorer in Windows (the utility for viewing and managing files on disk), you might think that you have no choice but to use the tool provided by Microsoft for this task. However, there are other file managers available and you can also set them as the default option.
This requires a bit of registry hacking, so proceed with caution, although some File Explorer alternatives will do the necessary hacking for you, making things easier. If you want to go back to standard File Explorer as your default option, you can simply delete the extra registry keys you created to get back to normal.
Choose your file manager
Several Windows file management tools have been discussed on Lifehacker over the years, including the Files app. It offers a clean, modern interface with customizable appearance options, tabbed browsing for your folders, built-in previews for common file types, and integrations with Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.
Another popular choice is XYplorer. It also supports tabs, as well as an intuitive two-pane layout option. You also get a powerful search feature and plenty of customization options. It’s quick to use, and the program also supports scripting, allowing you to automate many repetitive file management tasks.
Then there is A commanderand it’s one of the tools that can set itself as your default file manager by taking care of registry hacks for you: click the gear icon (bottom left) and check the Save as default file manager box in the Advanced tab. It’s packed with useful features, including advanced folder filtering and organization tools, and you can also customize the interface in all sorts of ways.
Total Commander is another file manager to consider, and one of the most feature-rich: it offers a ton of options, covering disk searches, file comparisons, batch processing, automatic archive management, and quick previews. There are also tons of options to play with, so you can make the file manager work exactly the way you want.
Edit the Windows Registry
Once you’ve found a file manager that works for you, you can edit the Windows Registry settings file to make it the default. However, in some parts of Windows, such as saving files to programs, there’s no way to switch between File Explorer and the other. You should also be aware that you edit the registry at your own risk: Incorrect registry keys can cause problems in Windows, but if you follow these instructions carefully, you should be fine.
Ideally, you’ll be able to set your preferred file manager as the default option, so you should first check if this option is available. If it isn’t, you can start making manual changes: search for and launch the Registry Editor from the Start menu, then make a backup before making any changes (File > Exportand select All for the export range).
You then need to go to File Explorer to locate the file manager executable that you want to use as your new default file. Right-click on the program file and choose Copy as path in the menu that appears. You then need to go back to the Registry Editor and create a few new folders and subfolders.
Find the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshell folder, right-click on it, choose New > Keyand call it “open”. Right click on this new key folder and select again New > Keyand call it “command”. Double-click on the Default value inside this new key and paste the program path you copied from File Explorer.
Click on ALL RIGHTand your changes are automatically saved. You then need to repeat the same process in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshell folder, with the new keys and the path to the file. Once this is done, restart your computer. If all goes well, you will have a new default file manager.
If you want to go back to normal, just delete the registry keys you created in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshell (right click and DELETE) — File Explorer will then be restored to its previous position, although you can of course still use other file managers alongside it.