Recently, I came across two different Windows Explorer "replacements or complements". Let's face it, Windows Explorer can get a facelift, but the codebase is ancient. What if someone started from scratch? And here we have two different visions...
Please note that Microsoft never gave us a way to completely replace Windows Explorer, so there are various "hacks" including registry changes, call intercepts, and so on, but they all have pros and cons. Just beware.
Files / https://files.community/
Files is a slick looking manager that's completely free. They do suggest you "purchase" it from the Microsoft store to enable auto-patching and thus support them with a bit of revenue, but it is optional.
The interesting thing about this explorer replacement just about EVERYTHING visual is configurable. Want a background? No problem. Zoom, unzoomed, specific percentage, specific alignment, etc. etc? Can do. Color themes? No problem. Want certain UI elements to appear in a different location? No problem.
But by default, it looks a lot like Explorer... multiple tabs, etc. That is, until you find the "settings" button at the bottom left. Then everything changes.
This is free, so just go download it and give it a try, eh?
FilePilot / https://filepilot.tech/
FilePilot is extremely speedy and free during the beta period. In fact, the download is LESS THAN 2 MB. While the visuals are not as configurable as Files, the UI is extremely slick, with the mouse wheel picking many of the options, such as the different views of files, from large, middle, small icons, to file list, details, and so on. It also supports command palette. EVERYTHING is lightning fast...
In fact, why don't you just go give it a try? They probably will stop the beta sometime later this year, but in the meanwhile, the beta should still work fine. And you *may* find it useful enough to pay for the full version... even in the current beta state.
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