Launch New Hidden File Explorer in Windows 10

The latest update of Windows 10 (Creators Update Build 15063) has a new hidden file explorer that Microsoft has included without creating any shortcuts or actually letting the users know about it. This new file explorer seems to be designed fro the touch enabled devices and has a unique minimal interface that may appeal to many users. This new file explorer is available in the app form and can be launched just like any other Windows app.

Even though the location of the new file explorer is inside the system apps folder, you cannot launch this hidden file explorer just by double-clicking on its EXE file. You will have to create a special shortcut in order to launch it properly. For this, you have to create a batch script file like this:

  1. Open Windows Notepad and copy paste the following:
    explorer shell:AppsFolder\c5e2524a-ea46-4f67-841f-6a9465d9d515_cw5n1h2txyewy!App
  2. Press Ctrl+S to save the file and give the filename as launch-explorer.cmd.Hidden File Explorer in Windows 10
  3. Now whenever you want to launch the new file explorer, you can double-click on this new command script file.

The new hidden file explorer is available only in the Creators Update build 15063 and does not look completely developed yet. It crashes unexpectedly many times if you try to access some files through it. If you have not yet updated to the latest version of Windows, then you might try downloading the latest version of the Windows 10 ISO using the Windows 10 ISO Downloader.

Hidden File Explorer in Windows 10

Perhaps in the future versions, Microsoft will add more features to it, make it much more stable and add shortcuts to it in the start menu. They may also make it the default file explorer when Windows 10 is being used in the tablet PC mode or when Windows 10 is being used on the touch enabled devices.