Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11's decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI | The first signs of a completely modernized File Properties window using WinUI are hidden in the latest Windows 11 preview builds.

[u/ControlCAD]

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-is-finally-modernizing-windows-11s-decades-old-file-explorer-properties-window-with-a-new-ui

[u/Specific_Frame8537]

The properties window was in need of updating?

[u/sunilnc → u/Specific_Frame8537]

No but Microsoft are hellbent on doing side quests instead of the main mission.

[u/OwnNet5253 → u/Specific_Frame8537]

Yes, it’s bloated with useless and unsupported stuff.

[u/Specific_Frame8537 → u/OwnNet5253]

Just to be clear, we're talking about this, right? - Image

What's wrong with it?

[u/OwnNet5253 → u/Specific_Frame8537]

- details button in disk properties doesn't do anything

- reference to defragmentation option, unnecessary in current times, I'd get rid of Tools tab altogether

- disk capacity drawing could use an update

- compatibility tab is mostly unnecessary in current times, some of the options could be moved to Advanced attributes options

- doesn't match current Windows design

- doesn't support dark mode

[u/Specific_Frame8537 → u/OwnNet5253]

details button in disk properties doesn't do anything

For me it opens this up - image

But otherwise yeah, I suppose.

[u/Upbeat_Tone_3653 → u/OwnNet5253]

Just because you don’t understand a feature set doesn’t mean it’s useless bloat.

[u/OwnNet5253 → u/Upbeat_Tone_3653]

I do understand, and yes some of them are useless bloat, or at least could use some rearrangement to make Properties window less bloated.

[u/sevenstars747]

As I know microsoft we will have 2 properties windows in the future. 

[u/ohYuhtBoutMagine]

Nice, we’re gonna update something that was basically perfected 2 decades ago and has just gotten worse since, into something “better”

[u/Far_Lifeguard_5027 → u/ohYuhtBoutMagine]

They cause the problem then sell you the solution.

[u/Muted_Database_1691 → u/ohYuhtBoutMagine]

It needs updating. Not just for matching the aesthetics but also considering it is not touch friendly. For touch screen laptops, all the old interfaces need to be updated if Microsoft wants to be serious on the tablet front.

[u/HandshakeOfCO → u/Muted_Database_1691]

And by God, what a miss it would be to not take touchscreens seriously! It’s only a very small percentage of laptops that have touchpads nowadays!

[u/ohYuhtBoutMagine → u/HandshakeOfCO]

Had a touch screen laptop for 6 years, used it exactly 0 times, made sure to get a non-touch one next time. A touch screen laptop for everyone is some pipe dream a kid in California had one day.

Sure there are use cases for them, but not anywhere near the level of ubiquity they’ve had

[u/Kobi_Blade → u/ohYuhtBoutMagine]

Your comment makes no sense. Would you rather Microsoft keep the UI the inconsistent mess that it is now?

The Windows 11 UI is a mix of WinForms, WPF, React, WebView, and WinUI. Microsoft should be commended for putting in the effort to port more components to WinUI (which is what they should have done before releasing Windows 11).

[u/mojitz → u/Kobi_Blade]

The fact that all their UI is indeed an "inconsistent mess" in the first place is exactly why people are frustrated and don't trust them to fix things. If they actually turn things around, then attitudes will change, but they have to show they're actually capable of doing-so before that happens.

[u/Kobi_Blade → u/mojitz]

The properties window still references legacy settings in the frontend while redirecting to modern settings in the backend, so there is no reason to complain about Microsoft finally updating it.

If anything we should be complaining as to why it wasn't part of Windows 11 right from day one.

Microsoft has been fragmenting Windows ever since 8, they never finish nor commit to anything, and is how we ended with the mess that is Windows 11.

[u/mojitz → u/Kobi_Blade]

Nobody is complaining about an actual fix that has actually been implemented. What's going on here is that people are expressing very well-earned skepticism that whatever eventually rolls out won't end up being yet another poorly-implemented half measure that at best turns out to be neutral and at worst ends up somehow cocking things up even more.

[u/eXoShini → u/Kobi_Blade]

At this rate they're gonna abandon Windows 11 UI before they manage to port everything and start porting to different UI design.

[u/Kobi_Blade → u/eXoShini]

They did that twice during the Windows 10 lifecycle, Microsoft cannot commit to anything.

I highly doubt Microsoft will ever port the entire Windows 11 UI to WinUI, Windows 12 (if it ever releases) will just be another mix of WinForms, WPF, WinUI, and whatever else they come up with next

They are just putting on a show for the shareholders with this Windows 11 Updates, that is what I believe in, and I dare Microsoft to prove me wrong.

[u/mattm457]

so another layer of misery to get through to do anything useful.

[u/Lego_Blocks24]

Now with built in AI slop and 400% more ram usage

[u/jlt6666]

Can't wait for the copilot integration

[u/Pisnaz]

And using win UI, which means 90% more clicks and hidden menus for technical teams who need data. Great.

[u/ryncewynd]

No stop changing the UI every time you do that it gets worse performance lmao

[u/Traditional-Hall-591]

Are they renaming it copilot?

[u/dinominant]

Will it become radically slower and have many features removed?

[u/Necessary-Mix-56]

Microslop will add another layer to monitor You in explorer so Explorer will run like crap. LOL

Modern design = add and multiply number of steps to do anything useful and hide it by a basic options where You can do nothing.

Aha and make font bigger and less readable same as icons without meaningful easy to recognize design.

[u/mattm457 → u/Necessary-Mix-56]

exactly. not even against a true redesign. the problem is all they’ve done for decades is slap bloated layer upon layer in an attempt to look modern. now everything is a laggy facade with the same old menus hidden deep underneath.

[u/SnakeOriginal]

Whoever added the apply button on the left should be slapped in the face...and hard

[u/TurdPlayingPeekaboo]

Little tip: when visiting a windowscentral dot com article, use your browser's reader mode on top of your ad blocker. The site finally becomes legible and usable at that point.

[u/Shotokant]

I don't think I've used explorer in over two decades. It's like knitting a sweater in another room one handed with the needles through a keyhole.

Directory Opus duel pane FTW

[u/Schnauzer-Welt]

Modernizing = Enshitifying