Windows File Manager

This article is about the default file management program for early versions of OS/2 and Windows. For the default file explorer in Windows 95 and onward, see File Explorer.
For the program suite with a similar name, see FileMan.
File Manager
Original authorChris Guzak
DeveloperMicrosoft
Initial releaseNovember 1988 (1988-11) (OS/2; as File System)
May 22, 1990 (1990-05-22) (Windows)
Stable release
10.4.0.0 / February 21, 2025 (2025-02-21)
Written inC, C++
Operating systemOS/2, Microsoft Windows
PlatformIA-32, x86-64, and ARM64
PredecessorMS-DOS Executive
SuccessorWindows Explorer
TypeFile manager
LicenseMIT License
Repository

File Manager (WINFILE.EXE) is a file manager program originally bundled with releases of OS/2 and Microsoft Windows between 1988 and 2000. It is a single-instance graphical interface, replacing the command-line interface of MS-DOS to manage files (copy, move, open, delete, search, etc.) and MS-DOS Executive file manager from previous Windows versions.

Although File Manager was included in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 and some later versions, Windows Explorer was introduced and used as the primary file manager, with file management via a two-pane view different from that of File Manager, and a single-pane view obtained by clicking a "My Computer" icon.

File Manager was reintroduced on 6 April 2018 as an open-source project which improves some aspects of the program, including being offered as a native 64-bit application. It has been made as an optional download for all modern releases of Windows (including Windows 10 and later) via the Microsoft Store.

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