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
    2023-12-09T20:24:54+00:00

    I completely agree that this was an unnecessary step backwards in functionality. Why anyone working on this project at Microsoft would think this an improvement is beyond me. It was change, for change sake, although of course it keeps people busy and employed.

    Editing metadata in the Details pane was easy, and always had been, so why remove that feature, only to add more steps into the process by having to now click "Properties" and then "Details", just to achieve the same results?? Senseless.

    Users either utilized the Details pane to add/edit metadata, or they never saw (or even knew the existence of) the Details pane, so there could be no rationale that removing the editing feature protected the user from accidental metadata change or deletion.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-09T20:59:17+00:00

    My "work around" was to uninstall the problematic "upgrade". I have asked before., to no avail, so I will try again. If I buy a new PC, I assume it will come with the problematic upgrade preinstalled; will I be able to uninstall it?

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  3. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-09T22:54:24+00:00

    My "work around" was to uninstall the problematic "upgrade". I have asked before., to no avail, so I will try again. If I buy a new PC, I assume it will come with the problematic upgrade preinstalled; will I be able to uninstall it?

    You can actually allow all updates and then disable the new Explorer feature. That will work on your machine or a new PC.

    See my earlier message above from November 30, 2023 for details.

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