It baffles me with all the Operating systems out there that have tabs by default like Ubuntu, OS x, Debian, etc… yet Windows seems to lag behind providing the same feature.
The purpose of this post is to show you how one can add tabs in Windows.
Before you go on saying that people don’t usually want or need such a feature and that explorer is fine the way it is, enter the most-requested features for Windows 10.
The good news, you don’t have to wait any longer if you have Windows XP, 7, 8, or 10, you can add tabs to the Windows explorer with Clover 3 extension.
I have personally tested it on Windows 10, and guarantee that it works. However, it’s not the best when it comes to performance and it has lagged more than once in a span of 30 minutes.
Why add tabs in Windows?
The best part of having tabs is that you don’t have a bunch of windows explorers scattered all over the place and need a few seconds to a minute to find the one you’re looking for.
With Clover 3, you can click on the new tab button or use the shortcut Ctrl +T. Then drag a folder from one tab to the newly opened one.
Similar to common browsers, you can drag a tab away if you want to have a new window. This comes in handy if you would like open folders in groups.
Disadvantages
Other than the performance lag mentioned before, Clover 3 overrides Explorer’s menus. The Home and Share options are completely removed and the Computer menu option found in Windows 8 and 10 is introduced.
Installing
It’s not perfect, but if you don’t mind those changes Clover 3’s pretty great to get tabs in File Explorer.
Here’s how to install it.
Download Clover 3 from Ejie.me. When the download is completed, you will find a new ZIP file. Extract it anywhere you would like and run the .exe file inside and follow the on-screen instructions.
If done correctly, your screen may flicker a few times and you will find a new Windows explorer open up with the top bar showing your tabs.
