The release of Windows 10 Redstone 5 build 17618 for users enrolled in the Skip Ahead of the Windows Insider program brought back Sets, a feature that Microsoft first tested during the development of Redstone 4 and which was later temporarily removed for further improvements.
This new build, however, comes with a number of changes compared to the previous implementation of Sets, and the biggest addition is the integration of support for Win32 software.
Sets was originally developed to work with UWP apps from the Microsoft Store, but this build introduces full support for Win32 programs, which means File Explorer, the built-in file manager, finally gets tabs.
Tabs in File Explorer were one of the most requested, if not the most requested, features in Windows, and while Microsoft seems to be ignoring the feedback, it seems that the software giant was actually working on such functionality, not just planning more advanced options.
“With Sets, first-party experiences like Mail, Calendar, OneNote, MSN News, Windows, and Microsoft Edge become more integrated to create a seamless experience so you can get back to what’s important and be productive. We believe that’s the real value of Sets. Additional app integration with Sets is expected over time,” Microsoft explains.
However, there are several limitations to the Sets app, and many users may not be satisfied with how tabs work in File Explorer.
For example, while you can open multiple tabs in File Explorer, you can't right-click on a specific folder to create a new tab. Instead, you can only open new windows, and with no support for "drag and drop" for tabs from one window to another, this makes no difference.
Also, if you were already using File Explorer and clicked the + button to create a new tab, it doesn't launch a new instance of the file manager, but instead takes you to the home screen of the Microsoft Edge. You can then open File Explorer by typing its name in the search box, but again, this takes longer than it should and isn't a seamless experience.
All bugs aside, it's good to have tabs in File Explorer, and we hope Microsoft improves its functionality before it rolls out to all users in Redstone 5. However, it remains to be seen how useful it can be as part of File Explorer.
