Microsoft is currently testing a new 'Shared' section in Windows 11 File Explorerwhose goal is to make it easier to find everything that has been shared with you on Microsoft services.
latest windows He noted that the new addition is part of the latest Windows 11 (24H2) preview on the Dev channel (build 26120).
The Shared section is located next to the “Recent” and “Favorites” tabs, and displays any files that have been shared with your Microsoft account (whether it's a OneDrivean email, etc.). This makes it easier to see these files, right from the start in File Explorer, rather than having to search for them.
While the feature doesn't work properly in preview right now, at least not according to testing by Windows Latest, the theory is that files will be marked with their origin and, for example, something shared on cloud storage would open in OneDrive (naturally in the edge browser).
If you use Microsoft products in a work or school environment, your Shared section will also include files shared within your organization or school.
File this one under 'a lot'
Additional notes from Microsoft in the blog post For build 26120, you'll also see more file types in the Recent and Favorites tabs, as well as the new Shared section, and that includes files you've recently interacted with in Power BI or Microsoft Forms, for example, or Designer. In short, expect to see a broader selection of applications represented in these parts of the File Explorer user interface.
The preview also brings a few other new features, including new drop-down menus for apps pinned to the Start menu for easier access to certain features, the ability to share files that appear in Windows Search more easily, and a relocation of media controls stops at the bottom center of the lock screen when you have media playing in the background.
All of this should be included in the next big Windows 11 24H2 updatewhich we hope will arrive any week. However, as is always the case with testing work, we do not know if all features will be suitable for the release version of the update.
However, it seems likely that most of these proposed changes will end up in Windows 11, including the Shared tab, assuming Microsoft can fix the current bug as the feature moves through testing channels.
