The design improvements in Windows 11 are there for all to see. It does look more modern and beautiful than Windows 10, which has been out for years, but new design overhauls often come at the cost of feature changes. Since the initial release, many users have complained that Windows 11 has removed some convenient features, making the experience of using the taskbar, Start menu, File Explorer, etc. more cumbersome, especially when you've long been used to using convenient features like taskbar drag-and-drop or folder preview in File Explorer.
But from all indications, Microsoft has listened to user feedback and is working hard to make improvements for it. In the Windows 11 Build 22557 preview that was recently pushed to beta testers on the Dev Channel, we can see some promising changes. For example, you are now able to drag and drop files such as images or text onto an application in the taskbar to open the file in the highlighted application. You can also drag and drop images in Outlook by simply dragging and dropping them onto the Outlook icon.
In addition to the taskbar improvements, Microsoft has restored support for "folder preview" in File Explorer. Folder preview was a handy feature that existed in all previous versions of Windows and was used by many users on a daily basis, so it really irritated many users when it was removed from Windows 11. And starting with Windows 11 Build 22557, users can preview a folder's files in Explorer without having to open the folder.
File Explorer's Quick Access now allows for fixed files
File Explorer's Quick Access view now allows you to pin files. Previously Microsoft allowed users to pin folders, but this update extends support to files.
Microsoft has created a new section above recent files to highlight pinned files.
If you have a Microsoft account connected to your device, File Explorer will also sync fixed and recent files from Office.com. This includes OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. This feature supports real-time syncing, so if you pin or unpin an Office.com file in Quick Access, it will also be reflected in Office.com and Office apps.
OneDrive integration in File Explorer
Microsoft is making it even easier to manage OneDrive directly from File Explorer. As shown in the screenshot, you can browse OneDrive folders and view sync status and quota usage within the Explorer window.
The storage capacity is now displayed in File Explorer without even opening the OneDrive folder.
A new way to share content to Outlook
Microsoft is testing a feature called "Outlook Desktop Integration" that will allow local files to be shared to Outlook and emails to be composed directly from File Explorer. The email compose box and attachments will appear within the Explorer share window, so you can easily send emails from Explorer.
Currently, File Explorer's Outlook integration only works with local files, and it is not possible to share files stored in the OneDrive folder.
In addition, the Sharing window in Windows 11 includes support for contacted users from Microsoft 365 and the list is automatically synchronized, making it easier to share files through Outlook in Explorer.
These changes are currently only available to beta users. The general public will get the new File Explorer feature through Windows 11 Sun Valley 2, which is expected to start rolling out this fall.