A modern Windows file manager with tabs and panes, whole-drive indexed search with pinyin matching, quick preview, and a staging tray.
files-community/Files
A modern, open-source file manager for Windows with multitasking, file tags, and deep system integration.
Open-source alternative to:Windows File Explorer
- Stars
- 46,512
- Forks
- 3,016
- Open issues
- 468
- Last commit
- yesterday
What is it?
Files is an open-source file manager for Windows that helps users organize files and folders in a more capable interface than the default Explorer. It is built with C#, .NET, and WinUI, and is distributed both through the Microsoft Store and as a classic installer.
The app focuses on multitasking, letting users work across multiple tabs and views at once, and adds file tags for categorizing content. It also offers deep integration with the Windows shell and a Fluent-style interface. A preview build can be installed alongside the stable release to try new features early.
The project is developed in the open with community feedback and bug reports on GitHub, and it is localized through Crowdin. Developers who want to build it from source can follow the instructions on the project's documentation site.
Key features
- 01Multitasking with multiple tabs and views
- 02File tags for organizing files and folders
- 03Deep integration with Windows
- 04Fluent-style modern interface built on WinUI
- 05Preview version available alongside the stable release
Use cases
- Power users who manage large numbers of files and want multiple tabs
- Windows users looking for a more capable alternative to the default file explorer
- Developers who want to study or contribute to a large WinUI and .NET desktop app
Quick start
- 1
Install Files from the Microsoft Store or download the classic installer from the website
- 2
Build from source by following the documentation site instructions
Things to know
- Windows only.
In collections
Topics
FAQ
- What is Files?
- A modern, open-source file manager for Windows with multitasking, file tags, and deep system integration. Files is an open-source file manager for Windows that helps users organize files and folders in a more capable interface than the default Explorer. It is built with C#, .NET, and WinUI, and is distributed both through the Microsoft Store and as a classic installer.
- Is Files free to use? What license does it have?
- Files is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
- Is Files still maintained?
- Actively maintained. The last commit to Files was on Nov 6, 2026.
- What can I use Files for?
- Power users who manage large numbers of files and want multiple tabs Windows users looking for a more capable alternative to the default file explorer Developers who want to study or contribute to a large WinUI and .NET desktop app
- How do I install Files?
- Install Files from the Microsoft Store or download the classic installer from the website Build from source by following the documentation site instructions
- Where can I get Files?
- The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/files-community/Files
Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.
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