# Please suggest an App for Windows 10/11 that's similar to Dir in a cmd window **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311 "2026-02-02T17:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/81 "2026-02-08T20:14:25Z")
Well, I went into Win 11 with an open mind. I really tried to accept the changes in File Explorer and revamped start menu. I tried for three days. Time to go to GitHub. Github has a pre-release of Open Shell 4.4.197 available since Feb 5. 4.4.196 released May 2025. I’ll give the new version a try. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/82 "2026-02-08T20:43:42Z")
Open Shell is a replacement for the Start menu. And yeah, it’s a good one. Every Windows 11 machine I use has it installed. But you may be looking for File Explorer alternatives, which Open Shell isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/83 "2026-02-08T20:53:12Z")
Is there a replacement Explorer App similar to Win 7 and 10? This article from 2024 reads like a bad joke. I delayed going to Win 11 for as long as possible. Ultimately none of us has a choice other than Linux and its learning curve. > **[What's new on File Explorer on Windows 11 2024 Update (version 24H2)](https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/whats-new-on-file-explorer-on-windows-11-2024-update-version-24h2)** > > The updated version of File Explorer brings several improvements, and here's what you need to know. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/84 "2026-02-08T20:59:32Z")
There are numerous alternatives to Windows 11 File Explorer. I chose not to make any recommendations because I’m ok with the built-in one, so I don’t have a recommendation based on personal experience. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/85 "2026-02-08T23:32:16Z")
I use an app called **OneCommander** as an Explorer alternative. But it’s not a throwback, it’s all new and fancy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/86 "2026-02-08T23:39:44Z")
**OneCommander** is mentioned as a great pick in this review. I’ll try the easier **Q-Dir** (the Quad Explorer) first. Perhaps try **FreeCommander** afterwards. 1.No install. Runs from a folder and desktop shortcut. 2.Color filter sounds useful. Red for exe, Blue Audio, Green Video, Docs in purple. I hope that’s how it can be setup. Dated UI? That made my ears perk up. I’m an old programmer from the 90’s and 00’s. Dated UI is my Jam. 😃 [https://www.howtogeek.com/alternatives-to-windows-file-explorer/](https://www.howtogeek.com/alternatives-to-windows-file-explorer/) > [@](#): > > If there’s one thing I don’t like about [Q-DIr](http://www.q-dir.com/), it’s just how dated the UI looks. Looks can be deceiving, however, as Q-DIr brings a lot to the table—not the least of which is the four-pane setup it offers, which is quite unique among these file managers. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/87 "2026-02-09T00:41:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Dated UI? That made my ears perk up. > I’m an old programmer from the 90’s and 00’s. You might take a look at Total Commander ([https://www.ghisler.com/](https://www.ghisler.com/)) The first version was released in 1993 and it’s still going strong. It does searching, directory syncing, ziping (including RAR), and has a sophisticated multi-rename tool. The downside is it’s not cheap – approximately $50. I bought it decades ago and I think the directory syncing and multi-rename features are first rate. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/88 "2026-02-09T00:49:57Z")
I remember hearing about Totsl Commander years ago. IIRC ir was on a coworker’s pc. I’ll put it on my list to try. I’m jamming to CCR right now with [Foobar2000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foobar2000). Another great old music player app from 2002. Don’t be fooled by the name. It was released on Dec 20, 2002. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/89 "2026-03-14T04:23:46Z")
Ok, i see that got munged. The syntax in the Explorer search box is filename colon filespec Where colon is, doh, a colon and filespec can have asterisks in it. Pretty sure that’s what OP wanted. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/90 "2026-03-14T14:21:27Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > You might take a look at Total Commander A great application. I hardly use Windows anymore, but that is one of the first things I install. It is still “share-ware” but I paid for a license ages ago. I can’t even recall what extra benefits I got from paying. Certainly not any modern UI updates! But I am a child of the 90s, so shit UI is normal to me. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/91 "2026-03-14T15:02:34Z")
@scudsucker: I am in the same boat. I am mostly Linux these days but Total Commander is the only Windows, non-Microsoft app I still use from the 90s. As for benefits, the developer sent me an index card with keyboard shortcuts and the software on either CD or floppy – I can’t remember which. I did have the index card taped to my CRT monitor for a while. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/92 "2026-03-15T02:28:58Z")
I use the free version of FileLocator Pro, which has an option for regex searches on the file name and/or file content. It can also search in time ranges and file size ranges. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/93 "2026-03-15T09:08:47Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I use the free version of FileLocator Pro Me too. maybe not as fast as the above options but it does the job. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/94 "2026-03-15T13:32:15Z")
The still, albeit elderly, freeware Windirstat also does the job. I cannot imagine how many GBs of crap I have removed from various machines using it. > **[WinDirStat](https://windirstat.net/)** > > Windows Directory Statistics It gives you a visual representation of your filesystem size and contents. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/95 "2026-03-15T14:05:43Z")
I have been using that for years and it never gets old. But the OP asks for > [@aceplace57](#): > > facilitates various string searches in filenames? and it doesn’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/96 "2026-03-15T14:08:59Z")
To really answer the question, while I use CMD > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > and it doesn’t do that. Windows Subsystem for Linux offeres `grep`, not that I use it much. Most of my work is on a Mac, VPN into Alpine Linux systems in the cloud.. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/97 "2026-03-15T14:32:20Z")
`grep` is Unix; on Windows it is `FINDSTR`. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/98 "2026-03-15T14:40:16Z")
E.g. `dir *.* /s/b | findstr Alice` ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/99 "2026-03-19T19:33:25Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > You can try Everything: [https://www.voidtools.com/](https://www.voidtools.com/) I and my everyone where I work thank you for this! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311/100 "2026-03-19T19:56:52Z")
No need to thank me, I didn’t write that app 🙂 Maybe see if your company would consider donating a few bucks to the developer? [Donate - voidtools](https://www.voidtools.com/donate/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-an-app-for-windows-10-11-thats-similar-to-dir-in-a-cmd-window/1027311.md?page=4)