OldExplorer
Launch Windows 10 Explorer on Windows 11
The Windows 10 Explorer can be accessed on Windows 11 by opening the Control Panel and then clicking the up arrow a couple of times. OldExplorer is simply a launcher that does essentially the same thing, but also lets you provide your preferred starting folder. It actually runs the command control admintools and then, by default, sends \ to the navigation bar. If you specify a different folder on the OldExplorer command line, it will navigate there instead.
The goal of this project is to improve on similar PowerShell based solutions with a faster launch, no console window, easy change of the starting folder, use the Explorer icon, and not interfere with an existing open Control Panel window.
Note: You can make the Windows 10 Explorer the default file manager in Windows 11 with SwitchExplorer, but note that option will not provide the old details pane that allows direct editing of metadata. Use OldExplorer (i.e. this tool) when you need to get access to the old details pane.
Why run the Windows 10 Explorer on Windows 11?
For some, it’s just a preferred interface, but for others there are specific functional reasons, such as using offline files and folders or being able to set the folder type for an entire folder tree or getting access to the old details pane that allows direct editing of file metadata.
Another reason is to get better performance, especially with folders that contain a lot of media files.
How to Download and Run
- Download the zip file using the link above.
- Extract OldExplorer.exe.
- Right-click OldExplorer.exe, select Properties, check Unblock, and click OK.
- Optionally move OldExplorer.exe to the folder of your choice.
- Double-click OldExplorer.exe to open the Windows 10 Explorer to C:\
- If you skipped step 3, then, in the SmartScreen window, click More info and then Run anyway.
- Optionally make a shortcut to OldExplorer.exe and edit the command line to open the old Explorer to the folder of your choice. You may use environment variables and spaces are supported, as long as the path is in quotes.
Note: Some antivirus software may falsely detect the download as a virus. This can happen any time you download a new executable and may require extra steps to whitelist the file.
Summary
OldExplorer launches the Windows 10 Explorer on Windows 11 by executing the command control admintools and then sends the starting folder (\ by default) to the navigation bar.
Note: OldExplorer.exe is only useful on Windows 11. It will run on Windows 10, but it is pointless to do that.
Usage examples
Note: Typically you would make a shortcut to OldExplorer.exe and then edit the command line of the shortcut, if you want to start in a folder other than C:\
Note: By Default, OldExplorer uses the clipboard for any path specified on the command line that is greater than 3 characters in length. This allows the path to be entered into the address bar very fast at the expense of overwriting whatever is currently on the clipboard. You can tell OldExplorer to not use the clipboard by specifying /x on the command line.
Example 1:
Launch the Windows 10 Explorer to C:\
OldExplorer
Example 2:
Launch the Windows 10 Explorer to D:
OldExplorer D:
Example 3:
Launch the Windows 10 Explorer to %UserProfile%\Documents:
OldExplorer %UserProfile%\Documents
Example 4:
Launch the Windows 10 Explorer to This PC:
OldExplorer "This PC"
Example 5:
Launch the Windows 10 Explorer to This PC and do not use the clipboard:
OldExplorer /x "This PC"