Windows File Explorer
Windows File Explorer is one of the most important basic concepts that you need to know about the computer. It is as important as being able to type. Without keyboarding skills and knowledge of how the computer is organized makes for inefficient computer use, loss of files, and limits what you can do with the computer. Other terms for Windows File Explorer are "Computer," and "My Computer." Entering or clicking on one of these items takes you to the Windows File Explorer. When you attach an item such as a phone or digital recorder to a computer, a box usually comes up asking if you want to explore the folders, or to play if there are audio or video items present. This is a simple method to get into the Windows File Explorer for that specific item. This is fine for a quick view of what is on your attached device. It is not fine when you need to do extensive file organization and file moving. The "Save As," and "Open File" dialogue boxes in programs such as Microsoft Word, WordPad, Excel and others, are a modified Windows File Explorer with the added feature of a box where you are going to name the file you are saving, or type the name of a file you are going to open. The actual Windows File Explorer does not have a place to type the name of a file. It does have a number of areas specifically designed to help you organize the drives, devices, directories, folders and files on your computer. The main two areas to focus on for basic computer organization are the "Tree View" on the left side, and the "List View" on the right side of the Windows File Explorer.
Think of the Windows File Explorer as a cabinet with drawers. Inside each drawer are folders, and inside each folder are files. The "Tree View" allows you to find and open a drawer, then open the folders in that drawer. The "List View" allows you to look in the folders and see the files in those folders. In modern versions of Windows the "Tree View" has an area called "Libraries" which are actually folders. The "Libraries" area of the "Tree View" contains "Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos" folders. If you move to one of these folders in the "Tree View" and hit the Enter key one time, the sub folders and files will appear in the "List View" on the right side of the Windows File Explorer. There is an area called "Computer" in the "Tree View." If you move to the "Computer" item in the "Tree View," hit the right arrow, and then down arrow, you will hear your hard drive (Local Drive C), and any attached items to the computer such as a phone, camera or digital recorder. Hitting the right arrow on one of these items opens the drawers or folders for that item. Hitting the left arrow closes the drawers, hiding the folders. If you hit right arrow on you Local Drive C, DVD disc drive, or item attached to the computer, you can then down arrow through the folders for that item. Hitting Enter on any folder will display its' sub folders and files in the right side "List View." If you hit the Enter key on just the "Local Drive C," or item you have attached to the computer, all of the folders for that item, and any loose files will be displayed on the right side "List View."
Key commanding the Windows File Explorer is fairly simple. The hardest thing to learn is to be patient. You must give a key command, then wait until your screen reader tells you what you are on! If you go too fast, and do not listen, you can create problems such as losing files or even folders, or get completely lost. If you do get lost, stop, give a key command, then wait to see where you are. If you are still unsure, give another key command, wait to hear the screen reader, and so on, until you do know where you are. As a last resort, shut down the Windows File Explorer with Alt F4 and start over.
Do not confuse Windows File Explorer with Internet Explorer. These are two completely different programs. Windows File Explorer is the organizational area of your computer. Internet Explorer takes you to the Internet.
Read the following terms and key commands, then do the following activities again-and-again until you are completely familiar with, understand, and are quick and accurate in accessing the Windows File Explorer. There are headings on this page. Use the letter h to move forward through the headings, or Shift h to move backwards through the headings. It is recommended that you start with the first heading, down arrow through the "Activity," then move to the next heading, and so on. There is an audio demonstration (MP3 format) link you can hit Enter on to listen, or to download to install on another device. When you are finished, move to the link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to go to the "Simple Windows Lessons" web page.
Windows File Explorer: The organizational area of Microsoft Windows. This is like a file cabinet with drawers, folders and files.
Tree View: On the left side of Windows File Explorer. Contains the main areas, going from top to bottom, of "Favorites, Libraries, Computer, Network. Right arrowing on "Favorites" displays the items you most often use or go to. Right arrowing on "Libraries" displays "Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos." Right arrowing on "Computer" displays your hard drive (Local Drive C), your DVD drive if there is one, and any items such as a memory stick, digital recorder, phone, camera, etc. that you have attached to your computer. Right arrowing on "Network" displays computers on your system, if there are other computers. This is like the drawers of a file cabinet.
List View: On the right side of Windows File Explorer. Displays all of the folders and files of any item that you hit the Enter key on in the left side "Tree View." This is like the folders and files in a drawer of a file cabinet.
Windows Key e opens the Windows File Explorer.
Alt F4 closes the Windows File Explorer.
Tab moves forward through the areas of Windows File Explorer
Shift Tab moves backward through the areas of Windows File Explorer
Down arrow moves down the items in the "Tree View" and "List View" areas of Windows File Explorer
Up arrow moves up the items in the "Tree View" and "List View" areas of Windows File Explorer
Right arrow opens a drive (drawer) or folder in the "Tree View" area of Windows File Explorer
Left arrow closes a drive (drawer) or folder in the "Tree View" area of Windows File Explorer
1. Press and hold down the Windows Key and hit the letter e
2. Release the keys and you will be in the right side "List View" of Windows File Explorer.
3. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key one time. Listen for the word "Tree."
4. Again, press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key one time. Listen for the word "Tree."
5. Do step 4 above until you hear the word "Tree."
6. Hit the Tab key one time and listen for the word "List."
7. Again, hit the Tab key one time and listen for the word "List."
8. Do steps "3" through "7" above until you are very skilled.
9. Press Alt F4 to close the "Windows File Explorer."
1. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter e
2. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key again-and-again to move to the "Tree View" (be patient and listen for the word "Tree").
3. You are probably on the "Computer" item in the "Tree View." Up arrow to the "Favorites" item.
4. Hit the right arrow to open the "Favorites" item.
5. Down arrow through the "Favorites" items.
6. Left arrow to close the "Favorites" item.
7. Down arrow to the "Libraries" item.
8. Right arrow to open the "Libraries" item.
9. Down arrow through the "Libraries" items.
10. Left arrow to close the "Libraries" item.
11. Down arrow to the "Computer item.
12. Right arrow to open the "Computer" item.
13. Down arrow through the "Computer" items.
14. Left arrow to close the "Computer" item.
15. Down arrow to the "Network" item.
16. Right arrow to open the "Network" item.
17. Down arrow through the "Network" items.
18. Left arrow to close the "Network" item.
19. Do steps "3" through "18" above until you are familiar, quick and accurate.
20. Press Alt F4 to close the "Windows File Explorer."
1. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter e to open Windows File Explorer.
2. Press and hold down the Shift key and hit the Tab key again-and-again until you hear the word "Tree."
3. Release the Alt key.
4. Up arrow to the "Libraries" item.
5. Right arrow to open the "Libraries" item.
6. Down arrow to the "Documents" item.
7. Hit the Enter key one time.
8. Hit the Tab key again-and-again until you hear the word "List."
9. Down arrow through the items in your "Documents" folder.
10. Up arrow through the items in your "Documents" folder.
11. Press Alt F4 to close the Windows File Explorer.
12. Do steps "1" through "11" again-and-again until you understand, and are quick and accurate. Try opening different folders in the "Libraries" area, and then open "Local Drive C" and explore.
Audio Demonstration of Basic Windows File Explorer Link