On Windows 11 22H2, you can now enable an early preview of the new details pane for File Explorer.
Microsoft seems to be experimenting with a redesigned version of the details pane for File Explorer. The new version of the experience offers more information and actions for a particular file, folder, or drive you select. For instance, when selecting a drive, the details pane on the right side will surface sharing options, activity details, file information, related files, and related conversations.
Since this is an early preview, the settings and other details are placeholders of how the feature should work. However, this might change in future builds of Windows 11.
If you want to check this feature out before they’re officially available (via PhantomOcean3), you can use a third-party tool known as “ViVeTool” to enable the new experience on build 25276 and higher releases of Windows 11.
This guide will teach you the steps to enable the new details pane in File Explorer for Windows 11.
Enable new File Explorer details pane on Windows 11
To enable the modern details pane for File Explorer on Windows 11, use these steps:
-
-
Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the modern details pane.
-
Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
-
Click the Extract all button.
-
Click the Extract button.
-
Copy the path to the folder.
-
Open Start.
-
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
-
Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:
cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool
In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.
-
Type the following command to enable the new details pane in File Explorer and press Enter:
vivetool /enable /id:38613007
-
Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, the next time you open File Explorer and select a file, folder, or drive, you will see a details pane with a modern design with options to share the content, details about activities, related files and conversations, and more.
If the pane doesn’t appear on the right, click the “View” menu, select “Show,” and choose the “Details pane” option.
If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but in step 10, make sure to run the vivetool /disable /id:38613007 command and restart the device.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].