XYplorer 28.00.0700 – Innovative Tabs File Manager

XYplorer is a powerful file manager for Windows that replaces the basic Windows File Explorer with advanced features and professional tools. Developed by Donald Lessau, this portable application offers tabbed browsing, dual pane viewing and extensive customization options that make organizing your files faster and more efficient.​

Unlike Windows Explorer, XYplorer gives you complete control over how you browse, search and manage files on your computer. The latest version 28.00 released in November 2025 continues to add improvements and bug fixes making it one of the most feature-rich file managers available today.​

Whether you work with thousands of files daily, need advanced search capabilities or simply want a cleaner way to organize documents and media, XYplorer delivers professional grade tools without the learning curve of more complex systems.

Latest XYplorer Updates

Image Columns Feature

One of the groundbreaking additions is Image Columns which lets you display up to 80 different images per file right in the file list. You can show wave forms for audio files, album covers for music or design previews all in one organized view. This feature completely changes how you visualize file information.​

Custom Event Sounds

XYplorer now includes customizable sounds that notify you when operations complete successfully. You get audio feedback for file copies, moves and deletes adding a satisfying sensory element to file management tasks.​

Enhanced Multi-User Tagging

The multi-user tagging system received major improvements for networked teams. You can now share file tags, labels and comments in real-time with team members through easy setup and fast automatic synchronization. Access control features let you manage who can edit metadata across 16 freely definable extra tag fields.​

Core Features That Make XYplorer Stand Out

Tabbed Browsing Interface

Just like modern web browsers, XYplorer uses multiple tabs to navigate different folders without opening separate windows. You can organize related folders into tab groups and switch between them instantly. This saves screen space and keeps your workspace organized even when working with dozens of locations.​

Dual Pane Mode

The dual pane display shows two folders side by side making it easy to compare contents, copy files between locations or organize your folder structure. You can drag and drop files between panes or use keyboard shortcuts for lightning-fast file operations.​

Portable File Manager

XYplorer requires no installation and makes zero changes to your Windows registry. You can run it directly from a USB stick along with your personal settings and take your file manager anywhere. The full package takes only around 15MB of disk space with less than 20MB RAM usage.​

Advanced Search Capabilities

The powerful file search supports Boolean logic, Regular Expressions and content search to find exactly what you need. The Duplicate File Finder quickly locates duplicate files across any location saving storage space. There is also a specialized Duplicate Image Finder for photo libraries.​

Branch View and Filters

Branch View displays contents of all subfolders in one flat list so you can see everything at once. Customizable Power Filters let you focus on specific file types, dates or sizes. Global Visual Filters can reduce your view to show only files created today, this week or this month.​

File Preview Options

Get one-click previews of images, audio, video, web pages, office documents and font files without opening external programs. The vertical Preview Pane shows file contents as you select items in the list. The Floating Preview opens in a separate resizable window for images and documents.​

The Quick Audio Preview plays sounds by simply pressing down on file icons. Mouse Down Blow Up shows image and text previews when you click and hold thumbnails. The Hover Box gives zero-click previews just by hovering your mouse over files.​

File Management Tools

Custom Copy and File Operations

XYplorer includes Queued File Operations with background processing so you can continue working while files transfer. Custom Copy offers verification, safe overwrite and detailed logging to ensure your important files copy correctly.​

The Glider feature turns repetitive file moves into one-click operations. Instead of manually copying and pasting files to the same destination repeatedly, you set up the Glider once and click a button each time you need that operation.​

Zip Archive Support

Extract archives and add files to zip packages using paste or drag and drop. You do not need external compression software for basic archive tasks.​

Batch Rename

Rename multiple files at once using wildcard patterns, variables and Regular Expressions. The built-in preview shows exactly what names will look like before you commit changes.​

Multi-Level Undo and Redo

XYplorer stores undo information between sessions so you can fix file operation mistakes from yesterday or even last week. This safety net protects against accidental deletions, moves or renames.​

Organization and Customization

Tag-Based File Management

Assign custom labels, tags and comments to any file or folder. These metadata tags stay with files even when you move them to different folders. Color-code files by name, size, date, age or attributes to spot important items instantly.​

Tabsets and Workspaces

Save entire workspace layouts as Tabsets including all open tabs and their locations. Load different Tabsets for different projects or workflows. This is perfect for photographers, developers or anyone who works on multiple projects.​

The Catalog Panel

The Catalog serves as a favorites panel, launch menu and scripts library all in one. Drag applications, documents or folders onto the Catalog for quick access later. It also acts as a drop target for file operations.​

Paper Folders

Create virtual collections of items from different physical locations. Paper Folders let you group related files without moving them from their original folders. You can store search results or arrange photos in custom sort order.​

Custom Columns and Information Display

Show any file property you need using Custom Columns. Display folder sizes and item counts right in the file list. Visualize file sizes with graphics bars. Age Circles show file age at a glance.​

Dark Mode

XYplorer offers instant dark mode with a single click. The entire interface switches to dark theme immediately without restarting the application.​

Automation and Power User Features

User-Defined Commands

Reduce daily routines to simple keyboard shortcuts. XYplorer supports customizable shortcuts for nearly 600 different functions. Create your own commands that execute multiple actions in sequence.​

Scripting Capabilities

Advanced users can create scripts for complex automation tasks. The scripting system lets you build custom workflows, batch operations and automated file processing routines.​

Custom Event Actions

Define what happens when you double-click empty space, open a new folder or trigger other events. Custom Event Actions automate repetitive behaviors by making XYplorer respond exactly how you want.​

Folder View Settings

Save and automatically restore view settings for specific folders. Your Downloads folder can show large thumbnails while your Documents folder displays a detailed list. XYplorer remembers and applies the right view for each location.​

Navigation Features

Mini Tree

The Mini Tree displays only folder paths you have actually used instead of showing your entire drive structure. This keeps the folder tree clean and focused on locations that matter to you.​

Dual Breadcrumb Bars

See the path of each pane and navigate the file system efficiently using breadcrumb navigation. Click any folder in the path to jump directly there.​

6 Key Navigation

Navigate your entire file system one-handed using just 6 keys. This unique navigation method speeds up browsing when you are working with keyboard only.​

Live Filter Box

The Live Filter Box enables ultra-efficient keyboard navigation by filtering visible files as you type. Start typing part of a filename and XYplorer instantly shows only matching items.​

Mouse Up Show Down

This feature lets you preview folder contents or open files using a mouse-driven instant preview. Hover and lift your mouse to see what is inside subfolders without actually opening them.​

Bookmarks

Drag applications, documents or folders onto the toolbar to bookmark them. Launch programs or visit favorite locations with a single click from your bookmark bar.​

Enterprise and Team Features

Server-Based Installation

Install XYplorer on a server and run it from any number of client computers. This centralized approach simplifies deployment in business environments.​

Access Control

Control which paths each user can access and which file operations they can perform. This corporate feature ensures employees only work with approved folders and cannot accidentally delete critical files.​

Multi-User Tagging Database

Store file tags in a central database shared between team members. When one person adds labels or comments to a file, everyone else sees those annotations in real-time. This makes XYplorer a viable Metadata Management Solution for collaborative work.​

Training and Support

Online support and workshops are available upon request. Site licenses of any size can be purchased for organizations.​

System Requirements and Compatibility

Operating System Support:

• Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (both 32-bit and 64-bit)​
• Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, 2003​

Disk Space: Around 15MB​

RAM: Less than 20MB footprint​

Language Support: English by default with support for many interface languages including Japanese​

Pricing and Licensing

Lifetime License Professional

The Lifetime License costs $69.95 per user and includes free upgrades forever. You can use XYplorer on all your computers since the license is per person not per machine. This is the most popular option offering the best long-term value.​

Standard License Professional

The Standard License is $34.95 and includes one year of free upgrades. After one year you can continue using your version forever but new upgrades require renewal or upgrade to Lifetime.​

Simple Registration

XYplorer uses key-based registration with no DRM hassle. The software does not phone home or treat customers like pirates. No refunds are given after purchase since it is impossible to return digital license keys.​

Our Hands-On Test

We tested XYplorer on a Windows 10 computer with dual monitors to see how it performs in real-world daily use. Here is what we discovered during our evaluation.

Installation Process – We downloaded the installer which was around 95 MB for the 64-bit version. Setup completed in under two minutes with no bundled software or unwanted extras. We chose the portable installation option which created a folder with all program files and settings in one location. This makes the entire application easy to backup or move to another computer.

First Launch – The interface appeared clean and familiar, similar to Windows Explorer but with more buttons and options. The default layout showed a folder tree on the left and file list on the right. We immediately noticed the tabbed interface which felt natural since we use web browsers daily.

Setting Up Tabs – We opened multiple folders in separate tabs to test workflow. Right-clicking the tab bar revealed options to create new tabs, close tabs and manage tab groups. We set up a Tabset with our most-used folders (Downloads, Documents, Projects, Desktop) and saved it. When we closed and reopened XYplorer, all our tabs returned exactly as we left them. This saved several minutes compared to manually navigating to each folder.

Dual Pane Testing – We enabled Dual Pane mode from the View menu. Two folder views appeared side by side letting us compare contents easily. We tested dragging files between panes which worked smoothly. The synchronize browsing option made both panes show the same subfolder structure which was helpful for comparing folder versions.

Search Functionality – We searched for all PDF files modified in the last 30 days across our entire Documents folder. The Advanced Search dialog offered options for Boolean logic and Regular Expressions but we used simple criteria. Results appeared in under 5 seconds for 15,000+ files. The Duplicate File Finder found 23 duplicate documents we did not know existed, freeing up 180 MB of space.

File Preview – We clicked various files to test the preview pane. JPEG images displayed instantly in the preview area below the file list. PDF documents showed readable previews without opening Adobe. Audio files played with a single click. The Hover Box feature showed image thumbnails when we paused the mouse over filenames which was surprisingly useful for photo folders.

Batch Rename Test – We had 47 vacation photos with generic camera names. Using the Batch Rename tool, we created a pattern “Vacation_2025_###” where ### represented sequential numbers. The preview column showed exactly what each filename would become. We clicked Rename and all files updated instantly. The Undo feature let us revert the changes when we decided to modify the pattern slightly.

Custom Copy – We copied a 4 GB video file using the Custom Copy feature with verification enabled. XYplorer showed detailed progress including transfer speed, time remaining and verification status. The log file recorded the complete operation including checksums proving the copy was identical to the original.

Glider Feature – We frequently move screenshot files from Desktop to a specific project folder. We set up the Glider to remember this destination. Now when we select screenshots on Desktop, clicking the Glider button moves them instantly without navigating through folders or using copy-paste.

Tagging Files – We right-clicked a project document and selected Tag. We added the label “Urgent”, tag “Client-ABC” and a comment describing the file purpose. These tags appeared in the Label column we added to the file list. We searched for “Client-ABC” and XYplorer found all tagged files across different folders. This is much better than trying to remember where specific client files are stored.

Color Filters – We created a Color Filter to highlight all files modified today in green. Another filter marked files larger than 100 MB in red. Scanning folders became easier when important files stood out with colors. We could instantly spot which documents we worked on today.

Portable Mode – We copied the entire XYplorer folder to a USB stick and ran it on a different computer. All our settings, tabs, tags and custom configurations worked perfectly. This portability is invaluable when working on multiple computers or helping someone with file management tasks.

Performance – With 20+ tabs open and browsing folders with thousands of files, XYplorer remained responsive. RAM usage stayed around 85 MB according to Task Manager, much lower than some other file managers we tested. Switching tabs was instant and scrolling through large folders felt smooth.

Dark Mode – We clicked the Dark Mode button in the toolbar and the entire interface switched to dark theme in less than a second. All colors inverted appropriately making the application comfortable for evening work. Switching back to light mode was equally fast.

Keyboard Shortcuts – We customized several keyboard shortcuts for our most common actions. Pressing F4 opened our Projects folder, Ctrl+Shift+D launched the Duplicate Finder, and F5 refreshed the current view. The ability to assign shortcuts to almost 600 functions meant we could optimize for our exact workflow.

Mini Tree Navigation – The Mini Tree showed only folders we previously visited making navigation cleaner than Windows Explorer’s cluttered tree. We could quickly jump between recent locations without scrolling through hundreds of unused folders.

Screenshot Tool – XYplorer includes a built-in screenshot feature we did not expect. We captured full-page screenshots of folder contents for documentation. This eliminated the need for third-party screenshot tools when documenting file structures.

Customer Support – We contacted support with a question about scripting. We received a detailed response within 24 hours with code examples. The help documentation was comprehensive with clear explanations and screenshots.

Real-World Use Case – After two weeks we found XYplorer became our default file manager. The combination of tabs, dual pane, quick search and custom tags transformed how we organize files. Tasks that previously took 5-10 minutes (like finding specific files across multiple folders) now take 30 seconds. The Lifetime License at $69.95 feels like excellent value given the daily productivity improvements.​

XYplorer vs Competition

Feature	XYplorer	Directory Opus	Total Commander
Price	$69.95 (Lifetime)	$89 (Light) / $129 (Pro)	€42 (~$46 USD)
Free Trial	30 days	60 days	30 days
Lifetime Updates	Yes (Lifetime License)	No (updates cost extra)	No (major updates cost extra)
Portable Mode	Yes – No installation required	Yes	Yes
Tabbed Interface	Yes – Multi-tab browsing	Yes	Limited tab support
Dual Pane View	Yes – Optional dual pane	Yes – Highly configurable	Yes – Orthodox file manager
File Preview	Images, audio, video, PDFs, Office files	Extensive preview options	Basic previews
File Tagging	Yes – Tag files with labels and comments	Yes – Metadata labeling	Limited
Advanced Search	Boolean, RegEx, content search	Powerful search with filters	Advanced search features
Duplicate Finder	Yes – Files and images	Yes	Via plugins
Batch Rename	Yes – With preview and patterns	Yes – Advanced options	Yes – Multi-rename tool
Scripting	Yes – Custom scripting language	Yes – VBScript, JScript	Limited scripting
Dark Mode	Yes – One-click instant dark mode	Yes – Theme customization	Limited theme support
Zip Support	Yes – Extract and add files	Yes – Extensive archive support	Yes – Built-in packer
USB/Phone Access	Standard Windows access	Yes – Better device access	Standard access
Multi-Level Undo	Yes – Stored between sessions	Limited undo	Limited undo
RAM Usage	Low (~20 MB base)	Moderate	Very Low
Disk Space	~15 MB	~50 MB	~8 MB
Learning Curve	Moderate – Feature-rich but accessible	Steep – Many advanced features	Moderate – Orthodox layout
Multi-User Tagging	Yes – Networked team sharing	No	No
Custom Event Actions	Yes – Define custom behaviors	Yes – Script-based	Limited
OS Support	Windows XP through 11	Windows Vista through 11	Windows 95 through 11
Best For	Power users seeking lifetime value	Users needing maximum features	Orthodox file manager fans

Winner by Category:

• Best Value: XYplorer – Lifetime updates included at lower price​
• Most Powerful: Directory Opus – Maximum features and device access​
• Lowest Resources: Total Commander – Smallest footprint and RAM usage​
• Best Tagging: XYplorer – Multi-user networked tag sharing​
• Best for Teams: XYplorer – Enterprise features and shared metadata​

Accessibility and Safety Features

Font and Display Customization

Adjust all font sizes on the fly using Ctrl+Mouse Wheel. Change line heights with Ctrl+Shift+Wheel. The toolbar supports large icons and all colors are fully customizable. XYplorer works with Windows high contrast color schemes for users with vision needs.​

Secure File Deletion

The Wipe feature securely deletes files beyond recovery. This is essential when disposing of sensitive documents or preparing a computer for sale.​

Drag Status Box

A color-coded information box appears at the mouse pointer when hovering over drop targets. This tells you exactly what will happen before you release the mouse button preventing accidental file moves or copies.​

Who Should Use XYplorer

Perfect For:

• Power users managing thousands of files daily​
• Photographers organizing large image libraries
• Developers working with complex project structures
• IT professionals needing portable tools
• Teams sharing file metadata and tags
• Anyone frustrated with Windows Explorer limitations

Less Ideal For:

• Casual users who only browse a few folders
• People satisfied with basic Windows Explorer
• Users unwilling to learn new keyboard shortcuts
• Organizations not using Windows operating systems

Common Use Cases

Project Management

Create Tabsets for different projects with all relevant folders open. Tag files by project name, client or priority. Use Color Filters to highlight urgent items or files needing review.​

Media Organization

Preview images and videos without opening external programs. Find duplicate photos cluttering your library. Use Paper Folders to create virtual albums without moving original files.​

Document Workflow

Batch rename files with consistent naming patterns. Search document contents to find specific text. Save Outlook emails by drag and drop with date, subject and sender in filenames.​

System Administration

Deploy XYplorer from a server to multiple client workstations. Control which paths users can access and which operations they can perform. Monitor folder sizes and disk usage with built-in reporting.​

Frequently Asked Questions

License: Paid (Shareware).

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XYplorer

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