This Third-Party File Manager Is So Impressive That I Replaced Windows File Explorer With It

OneCommander, Directory Opus, Q-Dir—there are plentifulness of File Explorer alternatives disposable for Windows 11. While each 1 has its ain acceptable of pros and cons, for me, File Pilot is truthful astonishing that I’ve permanently replaced Windows File Explorer with it.

Lightweight and Super Fast

The precise archetypal happening you’ll announcement erstwhile downloading File Pilot is its size. The app is lone 1.8 MB successful size, which is adjacent smaller than the mean size of a photograph taken connected an iPhone. After installing the app, motorboat it and announcement however rapidly it opens compared to File Explorer. While determination aren't immoderate nonstop metrics to comparison the motorboat velocity of some apps, you’ll beryllium capable to easy observe the quality with the bare eye. You’ll acquisition this improved velocity not lone erstwhile opening the app, but besides erstwhile launching folders and files.

The animation successful File Pilot erstwhile opening a folder is besides overmuch smoother compared to Windows File Explorer. The app includes a slider that lets you alteration the presumption of files and folders wrong a location. When acceptable to zero, File Pilot displays folder contents successful a elaborate view. As you gradually determination the slider up, the presumption changes from Details to List, past to Columns, Small Icons, and yet XL Icons.

Another happening I liked astir astir File Pilot, particularly successful presumption of speed, is its hunt function. Unlike File Explorer, wherever there’s often a flimsy hold erstwhile searching for something, File Pilot is incredibly fast. It updates the results successful existent clip arsenic you benignant successful the hunt box, and interestingly, there’s nary noticeable hold portion the results are being updated.

Control Different Locations astatine the Same Time

Similar to File Explorer, File Pilot offers the multiple tabs feature, allowing you to unfastened antithetic locations successful the aforesaid window. While you mightiness find this diagnostic successful galore Windows File Explorer alternatives, what sets File Pilot isolated is its divided functionality.

If you request to enactment successful 2 antithetic locations connected your machine simultaneously, you tin usage the divided feature. The app offers 2 divided types—Split Right and Split Bottom. For instance, if you privation to divided the folder presumption vertically, you request to prime the Split Bottom option. Similarly, if you privation the divided presumption connected the close side, past you request to spell for the Split Right option.

Watch Folder Content Even Without Opening Them

File Explorer offers a Preview option that lets you preview an representation without adjacent opening it. File Pilot offers a akin diagnostic called Inspector, which goes 1 measurement further than the File Explorer Preview feature. In summation to images, the Inspector diagnostic lets you preview folders arsenic well.

You request to prime the folder that you privation to preview. Then, property the Space cardinal to activate the Inspector feature. You’ll spot each the contented of the selected folder successful the close pane of the window. Similarly, you tin preview an representation arsenic well.

Another chill diagnostic you’ll announcement successful File Pilot is that it displays folder and record sizes by default. As of this writing, this diagnostic is not disposable successful Windows File Explorer, and you typically request to install third-party tools similar Windhawk to alteration it.

Rename Multiple Files Simultaneously

File Pilot includes a batch rename diagnostic that allows you to rename aggregate folders and files simultaneously. When renaming aggregate folders, the app automatically adds a fig astatine the extremity of each folder sanction to differentiate them. For example, if you are batch renaming 3 folders, the app volition append 1, 2, and 3 to the folder names to separate them.

If you don’t privation to delegate the aforesaid sanction to aggregate folders portion batch renaming, you besides person the enactment to usage each folder’s instauration day arsenic its name. In summation to the instauration date, you tin rename folders based connected their incremental ID, past modified date, oregon existent date. To bash this, prime the folders you privation to rename, right-click connected them, and take "Rename." Then, right-click connected them again and prime however you privation to rename the folder from the paper that appears.

Customize File Pilot to Your Liking

In summation to each the features, what I liked astir astir File Pilot is the quality to customize it to your liking. The Options window, which you tin entree by clicking the app’s icon successful the top-left country and selecting "Options," provides a agelong database of customization options. You tin alteration the font, set the font size, negociate animations, and overmuch more.

Unlike Windows File Explorer, which offers lone 2 colour schemes, File Pilot gives you the enactment to prime from six. Additionally, you tin configure however the app loads connected startup, determine whether to show hidden files and customize assorted different settings to marque the app execute arsenic you like.

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While I couldn’t find immoderate large downsides to File Pilot successful presumption of its features, its pricing mightiness beryllium a large drawback for galore users. As of now, the app is disposable arsenic a escaped nationalist beta. However, erstwhile it reaches a unchangeable release, you’ll request to acquisition a premium program to proceed utilizing it.

The app volition beryllium disposable successful 2 versions: Essential, which volition outgo $40, and Pro, which volition outgo $200. While some versions volition connection akin features, the Essential mentation volition see lone 1 twelvemonth of updates, whereas the Pro mentation volition supply beingness updates, entree to a VIP channel, and precedence enactment from the developers.

The pricing is decidedly connected the higher side, and lone a fewer users whitethorn beryllium consenting to wage specified a precocious magnitude for a specified record explorer. If the developers someway negociate to support the app escaped for idiosyncratic use, it could go a beardown alternative to Windows File Explorer.