Windows File Explorer is great, but it’s not everyone’s preferred file manager on Windows. If you’ve installed a third-party file manager, then here’s how you can register it as the default file explorer on Windows 11.
Why You Should Change the Default File Explorer on Windows
The Windows File Explorer has received many exciting features over time, like the ability to manage archive files, multiple tab support, and more. However, there are many important features, like the ability to view folder sizes, that are still missing from File Explorer. If your only complaint from Windows File Explorer is that it doesn’t show folder sizes, then you can take the help of a third-party tool called Windhawk to address that concern.
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However, if you want some extra features beyond what the Windows File Explorer currently offers, then you should install a third-party file manager. There are plenty of options to choose from, such as OneCommander, DirectoryOpus, File Pilot, and more. Once you install one of these apps, you’ll need to set it as the default file explorer on your computer. Otherwise, Windows will continue to open files with its built-in File Explorer instead of the third-party app you installed. Unfortunately, not all of these File Explorer alternatives include a built-in setting to automatically set them as the default file manager on Windows 11.
For instance, you can set OneCommander as the default File Explorer by clicking the hamburger icon in the top-left corner, navigating to Program Settings > Advanced, and checking the “Register as a Default File Manager” box.
However, File Pilot and many other third-party file managers don’t offer this option. To set them as the default file explorer on Windows, you need to manually edit the registry. Even for apps that include a built-in option, like OneCommander, the process ultimately involves the same registry modification; it’s just done in the background.
How to Change the Default File Explorer in Windows 11
The following instruction involves editing the registry, which comes with risks, as a single incorrect edit can make your computer unstable. Therefore, you should back up your computer and create a restore point beforehand to keep your data in case something goes wrong.
To change your default file manager in Windows 11, open the Start menu, type the name of the third-party file explorer you installed, and select “Open File Location.” I’ll show this using File Pilot, but the process is the same for any other app you have installed.
Right-click the File Pilot executable file and select “Copy as Path.” Then, open Notepad and paste the following script. You’ll need to replace both instances of File Pilot location in the script with the location of your file explorer.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell]
@="open"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\Users\krama\AppData\Local\Voidstar\FilePilot\FPilot.exe" \"%1\" /T /O /S"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
@="open"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open\command]
@="C:\Users\krama\AppData\Local\Voidstar\FilePilot\FPilot.exe"%1\" /T /O /S"
Next, click “File” in the top-left corner and select “Save As.” Give the script a name and add .reg at the end. Change the Save as type to “All Files” and click “Save.”
Navigate to the location where you saved the script and double-click it to run it. The third-party file explorer, File Pilot in my case, will now look after the operations that involve opening any drive or directory.
In the future, if you want to set Windows File Manager as the default file manager again, you need to open the Registry Editor and delete the “Open” folder in the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell” and “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell” locations.
Most importantly, you must delete the Open folder from both locations if you plan to uninstall the third-party file manager you installed. If you uninstall the app without first switching back to Windows File Explorer as the default file manager, Windows will be unable to open any folders on your computer.
Launch the File Explorer Alternative With the Win+E Shortcut
There are multiple ways to open File Explorer in Windows 11, with the quickest being the Win+E keyboard shortcut. Some apps, like OneCommander, offer a built-in option that redirects the Win+E shortcut to open OneCommander instead of Windows File Explorer. Unfortunately, many other apps, like File Pilot, don’t have this option.
To make them open with this keyboard shortcut, you’ll need to use a third-party tool called AutoHotkey. First, download and install the tool on your computer. Then, open Notepad and type #e::Run, followed by the path of your third-party file explorer that you copied earlier. The command should look something like this:
#e::Run "C:\Users\krama\AppData\Local\Voidstar\FilePilot\FPilot.exe"
Next, click the “File” button and select “Save As.” In the Save as type drop-down menu, choose “All Files,” and give the file a name. You need to add .ahk at the end of the file name, then click “Save.”
Now, run the script file, and you’ll be able to access your file manager by pressing Win+E. To ensure you don’t have to run the script manually every time you start your computer, copy the script file and paste it into the following location:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
This was how you can change the default file explorer on Windows 11. Many customizations in Windows rely on tweaking the registry in one way or another. Always make sure to take the proper precautions to ensure nothing goes wrong.
