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To open a folder in a separate File Explorer window on Windows 10, hold Shift while double-clicking it. To make separate windows the default for every folder, change the Browse folders setting in Folder Options. The first method is temporary; the setting remains in effect until you change it back.
File Explorer normally opens folders in the current window. Windows 10 does not show folders in File Explorer tabs, so a new-window action creates another window and leaves the original location available.
Choose the behavior you need
| What you want | Method | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Open one folder separately | Hold Shift and double-click | Only the selected folder opens in a new window. |
| Use the mouse instead | Right-click and choose Open in new window | The same one-time result. |
| Open folders separately by default | Change Folder Options | Future folder openings use their own windows until you restore the same-window choice. |
Open one folder in a new window
Use this approach when you need a second location for one task but want normal browsing to continue in the current window.
- Open the folder that contains the folder you want to open. For example, if the destination is Documents\Project Files, open Documents so Project Files appears in the main pane.
- Press and hold Shift, then double-click the destination folder. Release Shift after the click. File Explorer opens that folder in a separate window and keeps the original window open at its previous location.
Use the context menu instead
If you prefer not to hold a key, right-click the folder in File Explorer and select Open in new window. This is also a good way to confirm the action before opening another window. Right-click the folder itself in the file list, rather than a file inside it.
When you have several File Explorer windows open, hover over the File Explorer icon on the taskbar to see window previews. Select the preview for the folder you want to return to. You can also arrange two windows side by side when you need to compare their contents.
Make every folder open in a new window
Change the Folder Options preference if you routinely work in separate locations and want each folder to open independently.
- Open File Explorer with its taskbar icon or press Windows key + E. Select the View tab on the ribbon.
- Select Options at the right side of the ribbon, then choose Change folder and search options.
- In Folder Options, stay on the General tab. Under Browse folders, select Open each folder in its own window. Select Apply, then OK.
After you save the setting, folders opened from File Explorer use separate windows by default. You no longer need to hold Shift for each folder. Keep in mind that browsing through a chain of nested folders can create many windows, so this setting works best if you regularly compare or move between different locations.
Return to the same-window behavior
- Go back to View > Options > Change folder and search options. On the General tab, under Browse folders, choose Open each folder in the same window, then select Apply and OK.
This setting controls how folders open going forward; it does not combine windows that are already open. Close or arrange those windows separately. If you wanted separate windows only occasionally, leave the same-window option selected and use Shift or the context menu when needed.
If the shortcut does not work
Make sure Shift is held during the double-click, and check that you are opening a folder rather than a file. If that is awkward with your mouse, use the folder's context menu. If every folder keeps opening separately after you expected to return to the current window, check that Open each folder in the same window is selected in Folder Options.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. File Explorer continues to run, but Microsoft no longer provides regular free software updates or security fixes for Windows 10. See Microsoft's File Explorer guidance and Windows 10 support note for current information.
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