Windows 11's new File Explorer Details pane regression: Metadata is not editable.

Anonymous
2023-10-06T15:23:28+00:00

as the title states: Windows 11's new File Explorer Details pane regression Metadata is not editable.

I utilize the details pane constantly and now I can no longer edit the comments through it. I have to open the properties on each individual item and go along so slowly it's frustrating. Is there a way to expand the Details pane for the entire 'details' to show? This is upsetting to musicians and photographers as well, as the pane is also used for watermarking and as one disgruntled user wrote 'I catalogue a lot of photos and being able to quickly edit the Date Taken field for multiple images at once was a real time saver. They've ruined this actual useful functionality' So I'm not the only one who NEEDS this function back...

I have a massive number of documents, photos etc., that I need the source for when accessed. I use the details pane in the file manager / Comments to label them with detailed source information. Now I have to open and do this with each single photo? Multiple pages of Wills, Land Grants and the like?!?!

I am in such HATE now that I've found this thread and no longer think I'm going crazy. We need the OLD way or a workaround.

Media: Just in ONE tree: 12,800 and I know I'm on the bottom of any list of media users

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2023-10-07T14:09:11+00:00

While the latest release of Explorer in Windows 11 does not support editing the properties in the Details pane, you can still edit the properties for multiple files via right-click Properties. You don't have to edit the files one at a time. Just select multiple files, as you always have, and, instead of going to the Details pane, right-click on any one of the selected items and choose Properties (or press Alt-Enter), edit the properties and it will apply to all of the selected files.

Whether Microsoft will bring back the ability to edit properties in the Details pane remains to be seen.

After KB5034204 is installed, the previous methods that were available to restore the old Details pane no longer work. Currently, the only known way to get the old Details pane, is to launch the old Windows 10 Explorer via the Control Panel or by using a small launcher program, such as OldExplorer.

Alternative:

You can use the free tool OldNewExplorer to add the Windows 7 style details pane to the bottom of the Explorer window. This restores the ability to directly edit file properties, albeit in a different orientation.

Here's a screenshot:

The paid program StartAllBack (from the same author) provides the same option plus other features.

Also see SwitchExplorer if you want a free, minimalist method to switch Explorer to the Windows 10 version.

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Anonymous
2023-10-07T11:45:51+00:00

Hello, Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Thanks for your feedback, I understand your frustration with the new File Explorer Details pane in Windows 11. Unfortunately, the ability to edit metadata directly from the Details pane has been removed in the new version. However, you can still edit metadata by opening the Properties dialog box for each file or folder.

Microsoft attaches great importance to user experience, you can submit your ideas and suggestions through the Feedback Hub, and the development team will regularly review submissions for ideas or fixes.

Please share the feedback link here after submitting as it will allow others on the forum to vote for your submission, including me. More votes will lead to more visibility and higher priority to the development team.

Lugoo Bei | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-02-19T11:46:49+00:00

    The change to enter metadata in/on a file is NOT the optimal choice as it is today, The feature to directly change meta data frpm the detailspanel makes ot easier to use. Why make it mre complicated than it it is? Please change it back. Alot of users enables this feature since we make alot of metadata..

    Richard Persson

    MEDIABorgen

    CEO

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  2. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-12-18T04:05:45+00:00

    I’ve used the tool to use the old File Explorer, but it created phantom records. They eventually disappeared, but it made me leery of using the option. It’s been a while since I last used it,, but I think screwed up the indexing.

    The OldExplorer tool just launches the Windows 10 Explorer via the Control Panel, the same way you can manually. It just saves some clicking by taking you straight to the folder you want. File properties are either file system properties (e.g. Date modified) or metadata stored in the file itself (e.g. dimensions of a photo). It really shouldn't matter if those properties are set by the old Explorer, new Explorer, or any other program (e.g. EXIFTool). Indexing runs as service, independent of the Explorer version, so that shouldn't be affected either.

    I suspect something coincidental occurred, but can you elaborate on what you mean by "phantom records"?

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-12-18T02:29:26+00:00

    I’ve used the tool to use the old File Explorer, but it created phantom records. They eventually disappeared, but it made me leery of using the option. It’s been a while since I last used it,, but I think screwed up the indexing.

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