Windows 11 is testing a new feature that allows apps like Claude and Manus AI to access files stored on your PC using File Explorer. Microsoft is hopeful that adding AI to File Explorer will make you more productive. For example, you will be able to summarise documents, create presentations, or even turn your local files into a full-fledged website.
Up until now, AI integration in File Explorer has been quite limited. You can only access four AI Actions, and that too for just images. For example, if you can click on an image in File Explorer, you’ll see a new “AI Actions” option, which shows shortcuts to features like blur background in Photos or remove background using Paint.
AI Actions only redirect you to AI features in native apps, and now it’ll also help you summarize documents by redirecting you to Microsoft 365. This is one of the changes that will begin rolling out on Windows 11 in the next several weeks, but the most interesting update is File Explorer integration with AI apps.
AI apps on Windows 11 can now use File Explorer
AI apps such as Claude and Manus can now request Windows 11 for permission to access files using File Explorer.
When you choose to upload files to Claude or Manus from File Explorer, your files won’t be uploaded to the cloud. Instead, File Explorer will be connected, and these AI agents will fetch the content directly.
Microsoft insists it’s actually a good change because File Explorer shares personal files or folders without uploading them to the cloud, and you also don’t have to switch apps. For example, if you’re in the middle of a conversation with Claude, you can ask Claude to use files in your Documents folder.
You also don’t have to manually drag and drop files or go to the location because somehow these AI tools will now understand File Explorer like it’s their native home, and it’s all because of the powerful feature called ‘MCP,’ which is an open source protocol that connects AI to native services or apps.
What are the potential use cases of AI in File Explorer?
Microsoft says it can help you build code for full-fledged websites. This would mean that you can let one of these AI tools sneak into your files or folders and fetch the content, and then use it while vibe coding the websites. For example, if Claude has access to your picture folders, it can use them on your website’s gallery that you asked it to build.
“I want to build a professional-looking real estate website using photos on my device. Manus locates a File Explorer Connector and asks for consent to access these files. You can see I’m not stating any file names yet,” Microsoft officials explained. “Manus picks the right files. Manus can then forward these files to its own computer with Windows 365 for agents to build a website and publish it fast.”
Another potential use case could be to summarise the content of your Documents folder using Claude and then ask it to create a PowerPoint presentation.
It’s unclear when the feature will be included in a Windows 11 build, but Microsoft shared some images of File Explorer’s AI integration on Windows 11, but it looks like they’ve been taken down for some reason
Thankfully, I’ve got some screenshots that will give you a rough idea.
In addition, Microsoft is testing the ‘Agentic Workspace’ that will allow AI agents to always run in the background with access to personal files or folders.
