Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11’s decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI
Microsoft is undertaking a modernization effort for the File Explorer application in Windows 11, specifically targeting the properties window user interface. The move addresses a long-standing issue where File Explorer has suffered from a fragmented design, mixing decades-old interface elements with newer WinUI 3 components that were introduced in recent updates.
The File Explorer app has seen only partial modernization over the years. While Microsoft updated the top navigation bar, Home page, and details pane with modern WinUI 3 design, much of the rest of the application retained its legacy interface. This inconsistency has created a disjointed user experience that contrasts between outdated and contemporary design elements.
Evidence of Microsoft’s plans to modernize additional components emerged when developer Phantomofearth discovered details on Bluesky indicating the company’s commitment to updating more of File Explorer’s interface. The modernization efforts represent Microsoft’s broader initiative to bring Windows components into the modern era, gradually replacing aging UI frameworks with the more contemporary WinUI 3 design system.
This incremental approach to modernization allows Microsoft to update File Explorer without disrupting existing functionality while bringing visual consistency across the application. As the company continues to update Windows 11, more File Explorer components are expected to receive similar treatment, eventually creating a more cohesive and modern user experience throughout the operating system’s file management interface.