Technology Basics

File Explorer in Windows 11 helps you get the files you need quickly and easily. To check it out in Windows 11, selecton the taskbar or the Start menu, or press the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard.

How to use File Explorer:

• To pin a folder to Quick access, right-click (or press and hold) the folder and select Pin to Quick access.

• To share a file, select it, then select Share on the ribbon.

• To move the location of a file or folder, select it and then select Cut on the ribbon. Navigate to the new location, then select Paste.

  Note: For files and folders in Quick access, you'll need to right-click (or press and hold) and select Open before you can cut and paste.

• To change how your items appear in File Explorer, select View on the ribbon and choose between showing icons, lists, details, and more.

• To reduce the space between files, select View > Compact view.

• To find relevant files from your PC and the cloud, search from File Explorer Home.

  Note: Sign in to your cloud account(s) from Start  > Settings  > Accounts  to enable cloud search.

For a video tutorial on file explorer, click HERE.

You can use the Finder to view, access, and organize almost everything on your Mac. Click  in the Dock to open a Finder window.

How to use Finder for Mac

• Click items in the Finder sidebar to view your apps, documents, downloads, and more. You can customize the sidebar to change or rearrange the items it shows or add an item you open frequently. To quickly view a document or image without opening it, use the Preview pane. 

• You can choose how you view the items in Finder windows. For example, you don’t have to view your items in a list—Gallery view lets you flip through your files and folders visually.

• When grouping items by name, you can keep folders (in alphabetical order) at the top of the list; you can also choose other options. For example, to sort according to folders or files you used recently, choose Date Last Opened. See Sort and arrange items in the Finder.

• You can create and organize folders to keep related files together. You can also tag files and folders with keywords. To locate files and folders you’ve tagged, search by keyword or click the tag in the Finder sidebar.

• A Smart Folder automatically collects documents based on criteria you set. For example, you can set up a Smart Folder for all of your spreadsheets, or for all documents with the phrase “Paris Vacation” in the title. See Create or change a Smart Folder.

• You can create a custom icon for a file or folder to make it stand out in the Finder window. See Change icons for files or folders.

• Select a file, folder, or app, then choose File > Make Alias. You can place the alias in a convenient location and double-click it to open the item quickly. See Create and remove aliases.

• When you connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac, the device appears in the Finder sidebar, and you can choose to sync items. For example, when you add a movie to your Mac and sync with your iPhone, you can then watch the movie on both devices. You can also sync music, TV shows, podcasts, books, and more.