How to Enable Tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer

Microsoft has just included a number of exciting new features to Windows 11 that customers have been anticipating for years. Microsoft has finally added tabs to File Explorer in Windows 11, and most users will be delighted. So, in this guide, you’ll learn how to enable the tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer.

On the current version available in the Windows Insider Program’s Dev Channel, you may now activate an early peek of tabs in File Explorer on Windows 11.

Rafael Rivera discovered the functionality on Windows 11 build 22572, and it’s now officially accessible on build 25136. However, because it’s not widely available, you may need to manually activate it. The functionality functions in the same way that it does in Microsoft Edge. Each area of File Explorer or folder can have many tabs open. You may also create new tabs or shut existing ones, and the functionality works in dark mode.
In addition, the left navigation pane in File Explorer has been overhauled. The design structure makes it simple to access pinned and frequently used folders, as well as OneDrive cloud profiles, which now include the user’s name. To keep the view focused on the discs, the recognized folders (Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and so on) are no longer displayed under “This PC.”

Enable Tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer [Windows 11 Dev build 25136]

So, here are the steps to enable tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer:

Note: In the current Windows 11 Dev version 25136, you may now activate tabs in the File Explorer, as well as a new navigation pane (SV2Navpane) (released on June 9). As a result, make sure you’re registered in the Windows 11 Insider program’s Dev channel and that your PC is running the most recent OS release.

Windows 11 Dev version 25136

1. The next step is to install ViveTool, which allows you to create tabs in File Explorer. Open this link to get the most recent ZIP file.

2. Once downloaded, right-click on it and select Extract All.

Extract All

3. Now, right-click on the extracted folder and select Copy as path.

Copy as path

4. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Run Command Promp

5. Type cd and paste by the path you copied above and press Enter. In our case it would be like this:

cd "C:UsersrezafDesktopViVeTool-v0.2.1"

6. Type the following command to enable File Explorer tabs on Windows 11 and press Enter:

vivetool addconfig 37634385 2

vivetool addconfig 37634385 2

7. Type the following command to enable File Explorer’s new navigation pane and press Enter:

vivetool addconfig 36354489 2

vivetool addconfig 36354489 2

8. Restart the computer.

And there you have it: tabs in File Explorer and the new Navigation pane, both of which operate perfectly in Windows 11.

Enable Tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer

If you change your mind, follow the same steps as before, but in step No. 6, use these commands: vivetool delconfig 34370472 2 and vivetool delconfig 36354489 2, and then restart the device.

This is how you can enable File Explorer tabs in Windows 11. You must enroll in the Dev Channel using the “Windows Insider Program” options from the “Windows Update” section if you do not have Windows 11 build 25136. After enrolling the device in the program, click the Check for Updates button in the “Windows Update” settings to download build 25136, and then follow the steps outlined above.

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