Description
Description of the new feature / enhancement
I would like to propose a feature that integrates a native file and folder tagging system directly into Windows File Explorer. This system should allow users to assign multiple custom tags (keywords or labels) to any file or folder, regardless of file type or location.
The tags should be searchable and filterable using AND/OR logic (multi-tag filtering), enabling users to quickly find files matching specific combinations of tags — similar to how it works in third-party tools like Tabbles or Tagging for Windows.
Ideally, tags would be visible and manageable within the context menu or in the properties panel of files/folders, with support for bulk tagging and integration into Windows Search.
Scenario when this would be used?
This feature is crucial for power users who work with thousands of files across complex folder structures. For example, professionals like designers, developers, engineers, and content creators often need to locate files not by folder but by logical context — e.g., files that are tagged both “prototype” and “wood”, or “client-A” and “invoice”.
Using the current file system, we are forced to jump between folders manually, wasting time and increasing the risk of errors or missed files. With a robust tagging system, productivity would significantly improve due to faster file retrieval, improved organization, and reduced reliance on rigid folder hierarchies.
Supporting information
Examples of existing software that implement this functionality include:
Tabbles: allows multi-tagging and advanced queries over a tagging database.
Tagging for Windows: simple tagging with integration into Explorer and search.
MacOS also has native file tags with multi-color labels and Finder support.
This feature has been requested by many in forums and power-user communities. Integrating such functionality into Windows natively would reduce the need for third-party tools and enhance the file organization experience for a wide range of users.