In 2018, Microsoft made the File Manager originally released with Windows 3.0 open-source and published it in GitHub for anyone to modify, and now it’s available as an app in the Microsoft Store.
Of course, being an almost two-decade old experience, Microsoft had to make some modifications to allow users to install and run a 16-bit experience on Windows 10 devices using a 64-bit architecture.
In this updated version of Windows File Manager, you’ll find changes, such as back and forth navigation, support for context menu (with many new options), drag and drop files from one location to another, and you’re getting a search feature that also supports subfolders.
While the Windows 3.0 File Manager is available for Windows 10 devices, you must be running the Creator Update or newer version before installing the app.
- Windows File Manager | Download at Microsoft
The app won’t revolutionize the way you browse files on Windows 10, but it’s a fun experience that brings back some of the user-interface available during the 90s.
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].