This Windows 11 File Explorer shortcut is so simple but so useful

I’ve always assumed that the files I have in Windows 11 folders become a big, jumbled mess after a while – not to mention that it’s a total nightmare when I find something specific.

Sure, I know I can sort my files at one level, differentiating them by type, date modified, or size in Windows Explorer, but to be honest, when I do that I have just as much trouble finding what I need. The solution? An extra level of sorting!

How do you do it?

Getting an extra level of order into your folders is actually very easy. All you have to do is Shift-click the Explorer category you want to sort your files by after sorting the first column, and they’ll appear with that extra level of information.

To demonstrate this, I put together a folder with different file types: JPEG, PNG, and PDF files created at different times. First of all I click on Type to sort them by type.

Dominic Bayley/IDG

Then I hold down Shift and click on the column, Mate to add this as a distinctive additional layer of information. And that’s it!

Dominic Bayley/IDG

Now my files are a lot easier to search. I can now clearly see that the files are grouped by type, but I can also see in descending order which files are larger and smaller in each category type.

Need more categorization? Try this!

Granted, the default Explorer categories may not be suitable for the file types you want to sort and you may need even more levels of sorting. If so, you can customize Windows 11’s default File Explorer templates to include your own personalized categories.

You can do this yourself using one self-studyor you can use an app to do it for you. If you choose the latter, there is one app you can try WinSetView. Some Redditors say it has simplified the process thanks to the clear categories that save you the hassle of searching through too many menus. Have fun sorting!