Is there any way to get to the file explorer without having to go through the apps home screen or pinning it to the taskbar? Is there a macro for it?

Windows Key+E on keyboard brings up Windows Explorer if that's what you mean.
Windows Key+F for file search..

Thanks

We all seem to be having very different issues. Windows explorer placed a shortcut icon on my task bar, without help from me?

There's a Windows explorer shortcut on the taskbar on default installation, just like in Windows 7.