How to customize File Explorer in Windows 11 and adjust the background

Windows 11 comes with a fairly clean and minimalist design, but File Explorer remains, for many, too flat and blandAlthough Microsoft doesn't include a direct option to set a background image in Explorer (as very old versions of Windows did with workarounds), the system does hide a lot of settings that allow you to customize the experience and make working with files much more comfortable and enjoyable.

If you've seen screenshots of Explorer with background photos anywhere, it's almost certainly... third-party topics, personalization programs or modified editions of the systemUsing those types of tools can compromise the stability of Windows, so it's not recommended if you want a stable and secure computer.

The first thing is to clarify it bluntly: Windows 11 does not natively allow setting a background image within File Explorer windowsThat function existed in a very rudimentary form in very old versions (such as Windows 98, with some tricks and desktop.ini files), but Microsoft removed it years ago and, nowadays, it is not available even with advanced system settings.

If you've seen screenshots of Windows Explorer with background images, it's almost certainly from third-party themes, customization programs, or modified versions of the system. Using these kinds of tools can compromise Windows stability, so it's not recommended if you want a stable and secure computer.

That said, you can make the Explorer fit your style much better. changing the system theme, dark mode, colors and desktop background. That background will be visible on the desktop and in the background behind the windows.Although not within each folder. Later we'll see how to configure the desktop background with a static image or a slideshow to make that visual experience as pleasant as possible.

Furthermore, even though there's no internal background in the folders, File Explorer itself offers plenty of hidden or little-known options to customize behavior, privacy, and appearancewhich is exactly what we are going to break down from now on.

Is it possible to set a background in Windows 11 File Explorer?

The first thing is to clarify it bluntly: Windows 11 does not natively allow setting a background image within File Explorer windowsThat function existed in a very rudimentary form in very old versions (such as Windows 98, with some tricks and desktop.ini files), but Microsoft removed it years ago and, nowadays, it is not available even with advanced system settings.

If you've seen screenshots of Explorer with background photos anywhere, it's almost certainly... third-party themes, customization programs, or modified editions of the systemUsing those types of tools can compromise the stability of Windows, so it's not recommended if you want a stable and secure computer.

That said, you can make Explorer fit your style much better by changing the system theme, dark mode, colors, and desktop background. That background will be visible on the desktop and in the background behind the windows.Although not within each folder. Later we'll see how to configure the desktop background with a static image or a slideshow to make that visual experience as pleasant as possible.

Furthermore, even though there's no internal background in the folders, File Explorer itself offers plenty of hidden or little-known options to customize behavior, privacy, and appearancewhich is exactly what we are going to break down from now on.

Configure the folder that opens by default in Explorer

By default, when you open File Explorer in Windows 11, the Home view is displayed with Quick access, Favorites, and Recent ItemsNot everyone finds this view comfortable, and many prefer that "This PC" opens directly with its main drives and folders.

To change this setting and have Explorer open "This PC" directly, follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer (You can do this with the taskbar icon or by using the Windows + E key combination).
• At the top, click on the button of the three points from the menu.
• Select the "Options" option to open Folder Options.
• On the "General" tab, locate the "Open File Explorer in" section.
• Display the menu and choose "This team" instead of "Home".
• Click "Apply" to save the changes.

It is important that Do not close this Folder Options window yet.because you'll need it right after to adjust several privacy settings related to recent items and folders.

Improve privacy: hide recent files and folders

One of the most controversial behaviors is that Explorer displays, in the Home view, recently opened filesIt's useful for working faster, but it can also be a privacy issue if you share the PC or use it in work environments.

From Folder Options, you can decide whether you want Windows 11 to stop showing these items. The process is very simple and allows you to clear both the list of recent files and the list of frequently used folders.

Remove the "Recent Items" list

While still in the Folder Options window, do the following to prevent Explorer from showing files you've recently opened:

• Within Folder Options, go to the tab "General" if you are not already in it.
• Go to the lower section called "Privacy".
• Uncheck the box "Show recently used files in Quick Access" or "Show recently used files" (depending on how it appears in your version).
• Click on "Apply" for the change to take effect.

By unchecking this box, Explorer will stop showing recently opened documents on the Start screen.This is especially useful if the computer is used by more people or if you give presentations and don't want your latest files to be visible.

Hide frequently used folders

In addition to files, Windows 11 also displays a list of files by default in Start view. folders you usually accessAgain, it's practical, but it can expose routes you'd prefer to keep a little more discreet.

To disable this part as well, use the same Privacy section in Folder Options:

• Within "Privacy", locate the checkbox "Show frequently used folders in Quick access" or a very similar description.
• Uncheck that box so that the system stops recording and displaying those routes in the Home view.
• Press "Apply" to confirm the changes.
• Now you can close the Folder Options window once you have adjusted both boxes.

With these two options disabled, you will have a File Explorer cleaner and, above all, more respectful of your privacyYou will still be able to access your folders and documents, but they will no longer automatically appear on the Explorer Home screen.

Navigation, preview, and details panels: what they are and how to activate them

Windows 11 includes three very useful panels in Explorer that many people don't use because they don't even know they can turn them on or off: the navigation panel, preview panel, and details panelPlaying with them can make file management much more convenient.

The navigation panel is the one on the left with the folder tree and quick access options; it's enabled by default, but can be hidden. The preview panel, on the right, displays a preview of the contents of certain files (images, documents, etc.) without having to open them. The details panel displays additional information about the selected file (date, size, tags, etc.) without accessing its properties.

To configure these panels in Windows 11, do the following:

• Open the File Browser.
• At the top, click on the "View" tab or option.
• Within this menu, you will see the options to activate or deactivate the "Preview pane" and "Details pane"You can keep trying until you find the combination that's most comfortable for you.
• For the navigation panel, hover over the "Show" option and let the corresponding submenu appear.
• In that submenu, check or uncheck «Navigation panel» depending on whether you want the left column to appear or disappear.

The good thing about these adjustments is that You can modify them as many times as you want.If you're working with a lot of photos, for example, you might want to enable preview; if, on the other hand, you need more space to view file lists, it might be better to hide panels to gain width.

Open files and folders with a single click

By default, in Windows 11 you need to do Double-click to open files and foldersIt's the same old thing, but if you want to go a little faster (and you get used to the change), you can configure the system to open them with a single mouse click, just like clicking on a web link.

This setting can also be done from Folder Options, and it even allows you to change how item names are underlined when you hover over them.

To activate one-click opening:

• Open File Explorer and, in the top bar, click on the three points.
• Select "Options" to return to Folder Options.
• On the "General" tab, look for the section called "Actions when clicking on an item".
• Select the option "One click to open it (point to select it)."
• Below, choose if you prefer the Explorer Underline the name of the elements as a link always or only when pointing.
• Click "Apply" to save the change.

From that moment on, A single click will be enough to enter folders or open filesIt might take some getting used to at first if you've been using double-clicking for years, but many people who get used to it don't want to go back, especially if they work with low-precision mice or trackpads.

Select multiple items using checkboxes

When you want to select multiple files or folders, the normal thing to do is to hold down the key Ctrl while clicking You can select items within each item, or use the Shift key to select ranges. However, there's a more visual and simpler way to do it: by activating the checkboxes next to each item.

This feature adds a small box to the left of each file or folder name, so you can select what you want without using modifier keys.

To activate the check boxes in Windows 11:

• Open File Explorer.
• In the top bar, enter the option "Watch".
• Hover over "Show" to open the drop-down submenu.
• Check the option "Element boxes".

Once you do this, you'll see a selection box appear next to each file and folder. Check the boxes next to all the items you want to move, copy, or delete. and perform any usual actions with them. If they bother you later, you can return to the same menu and uncheck "Element boxes" to hide them.

Customize folder icons to better differentiate your content

All folders created by Windows 11 use the same old yellow icon, which means that if you have many, it's hard to distinguish them at a glanceWhat many people don't know is that the system includes dozens of different icons—some modern and others with an old-fashioned look—that you can apply to your favorite folders.

This not only gives your system a more personal touch, but also It helps you locate important folders faster., assigning, for example, a specific icon to work projects, another to photos, another to music, etc.

To change the icon of a specific folder:

• Right-click on the folder whose icon you want to change.
• From the context menu, select «Properties».
• In the window that opens, go to the “Customize” tab.
• Click on the «Change icon ...».
• A list will open with many available icons, some with a modern feel and others reminiscent of Windows 98.
• Choose the icon you like best and press "Accept".
• Finally, click "Apply" and then "OK" in the Properties window.

From that moment on, that folder will show the new custom icon in ExplorerIf you notice broken icons, learn how to Repair and rebuild the icon cache.

Pin and unpin folders to Quick Access and Start

If there are folders you access all the time—work, studies, shared documents, etc.—it's most practical to always have them readily available. manually in Quick Access or in the Start menuWindows 11 allows you to pin and unpin these paths in a couple of clicks.

This way, you won't have to navigate through multiple subfolders each time: They will appear at the very top of the navigation panel. or as tiles in the Start menu, depending on how you configure it.

To pin a folder to Quick Access:

• Right-click on the folder you want to pin.
• In the menu that appears, select "Pin to Quick Access".

If you also want to have it visible in the Start menu:

• Right-click on the same folder again.
• Choose the option "Anchor to Start".

If at any point you want to unpin the folder, simply right-click on it again In the Quick Access area or on the Start screen itself, select the option to unpin the list. This way, you can adjust the list to your actual needs at any given time.

Enable dark mode in File Explorer and the system

One of the inconsistencies that most bothers some users is that, even when activating certain dark themes, The File Explorer continues to appear in clear modeThis occurs because, in Windows 11, the color mode of the system and applications is centrally controlled from the "Personalization" and "Colors" settings.

If you want File Explorer to adopt dark mode to be easier on the eyes — and to better match your desktop background — you'll need to adjust these options from the System Settings panel.

To configure dark mode in Windows 11:

• Right click on the button Home on the taskbar.
• In the menu that appears, select “Settings”.
• In the Settings window, go to the section Personalization..
• Within Personalization, click on "Colors".
• In the "Choose your mode" dropdown menu, select the option "Personalized".
• Now you will see two settings: one for Windows mode (system interface) and one for the default application mode.
• In "Choose the default application mode", select "Dark".

After applying these changes, File Explorer and the other applications that respect this setting will be updated. They will change their appearance to a dark color schememuch more pleasant if you spend many hours in front of the screen or if you work in low ambient light.

Desktop background in Windows 11: still image and slideshow

Although, as we've seen, you can't directly set an image as the background within File Explorer, you can play around with the Windows 11 desktop background to create a more visually appealing environment. That background is what you see behind Explorer windows when you minimize them or when you use virtual desktops; you can also to use tools that transform the Explorer If you're looking for more striking effects, keep in mind that these often involve risks.

In Windows 11 you have several options: use a static image, a solid color, or a slideshow with several photos which change over time. This last one is especially interesting if you want the overall appearance of the system to vary.

To use a slideshow as your desktop background, you first need to prepare a folder containing all the images you want to use. It's important that they are all together so that Windows can automatically cycle through them.

Once you have the folder with the images ready, follow these steps:

• Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select "Personalize"or go to Settings > Personalization.
• Within Personalization, go to the "Background" section.
• In the background type dropdown menu, choose the option "Presentation".
• Click the "Browse" button to select the folder where you saved your images.
• Once the folder is selected, Windows will load all the photos it contains for use in the presentation.

In addition to choosing the folder, you can fine-tune several details to adjust the experience to your liking:

• Set the time interval in which the image is changed: for example, every 30 minutes, every hour, every day, etc.
• If you select the "Random Order" option, the images will be displayed without following a fixed sequence, which gives the desktop a more dynamic feel.
• Choose the image layout (fill, adjust, stretch, center, mosaic, etc.), to prevent distortion or empty edges depending on the resolution of your photos.

Thanks to this combination of desktop background with slideshow and Dark mode enabled in ExplorerYou'll achieve a much more polished and personalized look, even though the Explorer window will still use a uniform background.

As you can see, although Windows 11 doesn't allow you to add an image behind each folder like some tricks did in the past, it does offer a good set of settings for Customize File Explorer, privacy settings, click behavior, item selection, folder appearance, and the overall visual theme of the system.Taking advantage of all this, you can make your work environment much more comfortable, organized to your liking, reducing distractions and saving time every time you manage files.