GhinExplorer

Chances are you don’t really enjoy browsing through files on your computer with File Explorer. There are tons of alternatives with multiple panels for better navigation, or different designs in case you’re only interested in visuals. One of them is GhinExplorer, and comes equipped with simple operations, and other functions you need.

The application requires Java Runtime Environment in order to function, so you need to make sure it is installed on the computer you want to use it on. The default explorer is not replaced, in which case a desktop shortcut is just right for quick launch. The shortcut can be fitted with a hotkey command for even more comfort.

Launching the application might leave you a little disappointed, first of all because of visuals. The general structure is simple, with a side panel which shows folders in a tree view, and the rest of the space used for classic navigation. Only a few controls are found in the upper toolbar, which let you go back and forth through folders, or initiate a search operation.

The center navigation area is rather shallow in terms of design, and options. Only two view modes are at your disposal to show files in a list, or as small icons. You might end up scratching your head for a while, because you might not see any kind of file. This is because the default filter is set to ZIP archives, which you can change to all files from a dedicated drop down menu.

New directories can be created, files moved or copied around, and removed from your PC. You can also open them with one of different default tools. There’s also a search engine you can use. However, there’s no possibility to specify search location, and it can take quite some time for an operation to finish, especially on a crowded computer.

Bottom line is that the default File Explorer in Windows is fitted with bare necessities for comfortable file management. From all the alternatives, GhinExplorer leaves more to be desired, since it’s barely fitted with half of what File Explorer offers, slowing down file management operations more than it helps out.