Microsoft preps UI changes for File Explorer on Windows 11

• Microsoft is testing more pronounced, rounded corners on the address and search bars in File Explorer in preview builds of Windows 11.
• The change is currently hidden and disabled by default, so it hasn’t been officially announced.

Microsoft may be preparing another subtle design refresh for Windows 11, this time targeting one of the most frequently used parts of the operating system, File Explorer.

Early changes spotted in preview builds suggest the company is working to improve visual consistency in the file manager by introducing more rounded elements and aligning the interface with the Windows 11 design language.

File Explorer could get more rounded corners

According to discoveries shared by @PhantomOfEarth, Microsoft is testing more rounded corners for the address bar and search bar.

The updated design mirrors the style already used in the Settings app, where interface components follow a softer, more modern aesthetic.

Although the feature exists in recent preview builds, it remains disabled by default, which is why it went largely unnoticed until now. As a result, it is still unclear when the software giant plans to roll it out to users broadly.

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If the design changes arrive in the operating system, it helps resolve one of the lingering design inconsistencies. Although Windows 11 introduced rounded interface elements across many areas, File Explorer still mixes older, sharper elements with newer ones, making parts of the interface feel visually out of place.

Updating the address and search bars with rounded corners would bring the file manager closer to the design principles the company introduced with the release of Windows 11.

A small tweak, but a meaningful one

At first glance, this type of change may seem minor. However, File Explorer is one of the most frequently used components, and even subtle visual adjustments can have some impact on the overall experience.

Since the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft has gradually modernized File Explorer with updates such as tab support, a redesigned command bar, integration with Microsoft services, and updated context menus.

Despite those improvements, the interface still shows signs of design fragmentation, partly because the file manager continues to rely on older components behind the scenes.

A redesign of elements like the address bar may seem cosmetic, but it helps make the interface feel more cohesive and polished.