The 2009 version is still available for download if you prefer as it’s still a very capable program.įreeCommander XE has a number of configuration options to tailor the interface to your liking with the option to switch between single or dual pane layouts and show folder sizes. The old version has now been superseded by the new and improved FreeCommander XE. That’s simply because it was one of very few file managers that would show hidden and system files by default. The old FreeCommander 2009 used to be one of our go to tools when it came to fixing problems like files being hidden by a virus infection. Here we list 8 free portable file managers that you can use anywhere, even on a USB flash drive.

Usually a file manager will be either like an enhanced version of Explorer or a Commander type program with fixed panes. Third party file managers have been around for decades and many are far better at file management than Windows Explorer. There are tools around that can add tabs to Explorer, but it still falls short elsewhere. Something like a web browser shows it’s efficient to use tabs so you can quickly switch between locations. One drawback of Explorer is you need to have floating windows for each separate directory you want to work with. If you are someone that does a lot of file management and copies, moves, renames or deletes files quite often, you will no doubt find Explorer severely lacking in several areas. But in the end, Explorer still pretty much looks and works the same as it’s always done.

In Windows 8 the ribbon interface was introduced in Explorer which did help make file operations somewhat easier, along with a pause option for file copying. Windows File Explorer is not that different now to what it was in the days of Windows XP or even 98. I use Explorer in Windows, in linux I use Nemo.One area of Microsoft Windows that really hasn’t changed that much over the years is file management. I rarely encounter any search failures, and it searches the contents of all files, images, emails etc in the blink of the eye. The much-maligned Windows Search works very well for me, and it's blisteringly fast. I find that more flexible, but perhaps I'm missing something. There are many other tools designed for the professional which are way beyond what I need, but for me it's just about the first app I would install if I got a new computer.Ĭurious, not critical: why is this an advantage? I mean: the alternative is to have two Windows Explorer windows open, and drag and drop between them.

The ability to add a picture pane showing a larger version of the image selected, with no need to invoke a picture viewer Since this is a photography forum, the ability to list raw files as thumbnails showing the embedded jpeg (maybe Explorer can now do this?) The ability to display a 'flattened' list of files in a folder hierarchy, and the ability to apply filters to the list, is great for finding that file whose name and location you can't *quite* remember.

The ability to have defined tabs in those panes (think of it like a browser) to give rapid access to regularly used folders. The regular default is to a 'double pane' configuration, which makes it so easy to move files around without creating a second instance. Such as? Just curious, I've never encountered a need for a file manager feature that Explorer does not have, but maybe I am missing something. It may be over the top, but its configurability gives me just what I need, along with so many useful features. Personally, I dropped Explorer years ago and now use Directory Opus.

Multicommander vs unreal commander