Sharepoint 2016 Open With Explorer

Question

My organization is using SharePoint 2016 to host and collaborate on files. The users really like it and also currently use the "Open with Explorer" feature since it provides a seamless transition to storing, deleting, uploading files and folders. Without this feature, nested folder structures can NOT be uploaded as an error is generated which states folders cant be uploaded, only files.

IE11 is set to be decommissioned due to discontinued support from Microsoft. This means the "Open with Explorer" feature will be disabled as well. Are there any alternative solutions to allow the users to continue file management and allow folders and not just files to be transferred from desktop to SharePoint?

TLDR: Any alternative solution to replace open with explorer feature and transfer folders as well as files onto SharePoint 2016?

Answer 1

Hi @tannishpath11 ,

As the post mentioned,the "Open with Explorer" option in SharePoint server and "View in File Explorer" option in SharePoint Online will remain available in IE11 until August 17, 2021. There is currently no announced plan on exploring this function in other browsers (Edge Chromium, for example).

It is recommended by Microsoft to sync SharePoint files and folders to local drive using OneDrive as an alternative for the time being.

You could also try to map the library locally.

There are also active posts in the SharePoint UserVoice forum that you can vote for if you need this feature in other browsers:
View in File Explorer for Edge

Reference:
Set up Microsoft OneDrive in a SharePoint Server on-premises environment

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