Windows 11's File Explorer has undergone many changes in the last three feature updates. For example, Windows 11, version 22H2 introduced tab support. In the next cumulative update, Microsoft wants to help users easily duplicate tabs in File Explorer.
As PhantomOcean points out on X, Microsoft has been working on a "copy tab" button. This hidden experimental feature is available in Windows 11 KB5037002 beta channel testers. In our testing, Windows Latest observed that when you right-click on the tab you want to copy, the Duplicate Tab button appears.
When you right-click on any open tab in File Explorer, the right-click menu displays a new Duplicate Tab option. Previously, the right-click menu only had the "Close Tab", "Close Other Tab", and "Close Right Tab" options.
The Duplicate Tab option opens another tab in the File Explorer window and displays the same folder location. For example, if you have a "Downloads" folder tab open in File Explorer and want to take a closer look at the contents, but want to keep the main Downloads folder open, you can copy it now.
Microsoft may add keyboard shortcuts to this copy feature to make it more convenient.
Microsoft is testing the feature in the Windows 11 KB5037002 update, but in our testing, we found that the feature is also available in Beta 22635.3500.
While the release of Windows 11 24H2 is still a long way off, Microsoft is testing numerous feature plugins for File Explorer in an upcoming update.
For example, Microsoft also plans to reinstate the address bar drag-and-drop feature in the next cumulative update. File Explorer will get improved context menus, archive format support, and more.
The latest version of Windows has found several useful features in File Explorer in the last few Insider builds.
The first change is an improved context menu in File Explorer, which adds labels below common action icons such as copy and delete to make them easier to identify.
In addition, Microsoft is also working on bringing a full "Create Archive" feature to Windows 11 with multiple archive formats.
While it is already possible to create compressed files in Windows 11, it will soon be possible to create compressed files in TAR and 7z formats in addition to the commonly used ZIP format. Unfortunately, Microsoft has yet to reach an agreement with WinRAR to support the RAR format in File Explorer in Windows 11.
Users can also see more about Copilot in File Explorer's right-click menu, which shows suggestions for actions such as summarizing or sending files to Copilot.