--- title: The Windows File Explorer replacement, File Pilot, is... description: File Pilot is a Windows File Explorer replacement that prioritizes speed and developer-friendly features. It offers instant loading, smooth scrolling, and... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/the-windows-file-explorer-replacement-file-pilot-is-awesome-ggt6vbbhc twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: The Windows File Explorer replacement, File Pilot, is awesome | daily.dev og:description: File Pilot is a Windows File Explorer replacement that prioritizes speed and developer-friendly features. It offers instant loading, smooth scrolling, and... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/the-windows-file-explorer-replacement-file-pilot-is-awesome-ggt6vbbhc og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/GgT6vBBhC.png og:image:alt: The Windows File Explorer replacement, File Pilot, is awesome og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # The Windows File Explorer replacement, File Pilot, is awesome **[.NET Escapades](https://daily.dev/sources/andrewlock)** · 11 min read · 78 upvotes · 8 comments ## Summary File Pilot is a Windows File Explorer replacement that prioritizes speed and developer-friendly features. It offers instant loading, smooth scrolling, and lightning-fast search, along with split-screen views, a command palette, extensive keyboard shortcuts, and customizable themes. The tool integrates deeply with Windows, replacing File Explorer for most operations while maintaining familiar shortcuts. Currently free in beta, it will eventually require a paid license (around £40 for individuals). Minor limitations include limited file preview support compared to PowerToys and the inability to replace native file picker dialogs. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Community discussion Top comments from developers on daily.dev. **@dome68** · 5 upvotes > I tried it, and I don't know why, sometimes it seems slow, and it doesn't recognize some external device. **@xdrxxnx** · 5 upvotes > paying for a file explorer 🤦‍♂️ **@doncho** · 4 upvotes > (Un)Paid promotion? **@renehoehle** · 2 upvotes > Why do side projects build most times better programs then multi billion dollar companies? **@outofthevoid** · 1 upvotes > What's wrong with multicommander? Maybe that it's free? ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [File Pilot does something Windows File Explorer refuses to do, and it's the only reason I need it](https://daily.dev/posts/file-pilot-does-something-windows-file-explorer-refuses-to-do-and-it-s-the-only-reason-i-need-it-pkmscuqgs) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Windows File Explorer is outdated, and these alternatives fit how you actually use your PC](https://daily.dev/posts/windows-file-explorer-is-outdated-and-these-alternatives-fit-how-you-actually-use-your-pc-9ucjswtvp) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Windows 11's file manager is stuck in 2010, but these alternatives fix it](https://daily.dev/posts/windows-11-s-file-manager-is-stuck-in-2010-but-these-alternatives-fix-it-3j95goi1k) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [I used Everything, Windows Search, and File Pilot to find lost files fast, and there's one clear winner](https://daily.dev/posts/i-used-everything-windows-search-and-file-pilot-to-find-lost-files-fast-and-there-s-one-clear-win-buzy5peny) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#devtools](https://daily.dev/tags/devtools), [#productivity](https://daily.dev/tags/productivity), [#windows](https://daily.dev/tags/windows) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/the-windows-file-explorer-replacement-file-pilot-is-awesome-ggt6vbbhc) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"The Windows File Explorer replacement, File Pilot, is awesome","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/the-windows-file-explorer-replacement-file-pilot-is-awesome-ggt6vbbhc","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/the-windows-file-explorer-replacement-file-pilot-is-awesome-ggt6vbbhc"},"datePublished":"2026-01-13T10:22:24.223Z","dateModified":"2026-03-15T03:28:38.017Z","description":"File Pilot is a Windows File Explorer replacement that prioritizes speed and developer-friendly features. 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