How to Fix File Explorer Not Showing Files | Best Solutions Here

File Explorer is a tool for finding files and folders, but there are times when it may not show them. While the files are accessible via the command line and are present, File Explorer might not display them.

There are a few steps you can take to resolve this, but the most important is to make sure you're in the right folder.

It's important to distinguish between a file not showing (which is a problem with File Explorer) and a file being unavailable (which means the file is actually missing). If you discover that a file has been deleted from File Explorer, skip straight to the Recovery Methods.

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How to Fix File Explorer Not Showing Files (6 Ways)

Here are some solutions to the issue of "Files not showing in File Explorer":

Fix 1: Adjust File Explorer settings

Displaying hidden files in File Explorer on Windows 11 is a straightforward process that doesn't require any specialized computer knowledge.

Step 1: Launch the File Explorer.

<b>Step 2:</b> Go to "View">"Show">"Hidden Items."

Step 4: You can also click the More options icon > Settings.

Step 5: Click “View,” then select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” to display hidden files in Windows 11.

Fix 2: Restart the Windows File Explorer

Issues with the Windows Explorer process can affect various aspects of File Explorer and other related applications.

To resolve this issue, try restarting the Windows Explorer using Task Manager. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open the Task Manager.

Step 2: Right-click the Windows Explorer process and choose Restart.

If File Explorer is not responding on Windows, you can force-restart it from the Task Manager.

Fix 3: Clear Thumbnail Cache in Disk Cleanup

The issue with File Explorer might be due to outdated or corrupted thumbnail cache. Resolving this problem requires clearing the cache using the Disk Cleanup tool. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. First, press `Win + E` keys to open File Explorer. 2. Right-click on any drive (e.g., C:), and select "Properties." 3. In the "Properties" window, click on "Disk Cleanup." 4. The system will start calculating temporary files and other unnecessary files that can be deleted. 5. In the "Disk Cleanup" dialog box, check the "Thumbnails" option, ensuring that no other important options are selected. 6. Click "OK," then in the confirmation window, click "Delete Files" to clear the thumbnail cache. 7. Wait for the cleanup process to finish, and then close all windows. After completing these steps, restart your computer, and the File Explorer issue should be resolved. If the problem persists, you may need to investigate other potential issues or update your system.

Step 1: Press the “Windows” key, type Disk Cleanup, and then choose “Run as administrator.”

Step 2: Click “OK.”

Select C drive and click OK.

Step 3. Check the box next to "Thumbnails" and click "OK." While in this window, you can also clear the Windows Update cache.

Select the thumbnail check box.

Step 4: Click the “Delete Files” button to start the cache cleaning process.

Fix 4: Rebuild the search index

It is recommended to initiate a search index rebuild to address issues caused by corrupted entries in the database.

Follow these steps to reindex all files and remove damaged entries:

Step 1: Press the "Windows key + R" to open the Run dialog. Type in control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions, and press "Enter."

Step 2: Click the “Advanced” button.

Click on “Advanced”.

Step Three: Click the “Rebuild” button.

Click the Rebuild button

Step 4: Tap OK to confirm.

Click OK to rebuild the index.

Reconstruction will take time to complete.

Fix 5: Use SFC to repair system files

Use the built-in DISM and SFC tools to handle the Component Store of your Windows image and identify/fix corrupted system files. Run these scans in sequence:

Step 1: Press the “Windows” key and type cmd.

Step 2: Press "Ctrl + Shift + Enter" at the same time.

< b > Step 3:< /b > Click &quot;Yes&quot; when the User Account Control dialog appears.

Step 4. Type in sfc /scannow, and press "Enter".

After the scan is complete, restart your computer and open File Explorer to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 6: Update your Windows operating system

Sometimes, due to an outdated Windows OS, the extracted files not showing issue occurs. It's crucial to ensure that your Windows OS is up to date because older versions might have unresolved bugs.

To help prevent issues, update your computer regularly as follows:

Step 1: Press the Windows key, type Update Windows, and press Enter.

Step 2: Click the "Check for Updates" button, and the utility will search automatically for the latest updates.

Check for updates

Step 3. If prompted, restart your computer to apply the updates. This helps maintain system stability and ensures that known issues are addressed promptly.

Don't forget to share this article with your family, friends, and colleagues who might be struggling with the Files app not showing files issue.

Use file recovery software to search for missing files.

When other troubleshooting methods fail, powerful file recovery software like the Data Recovery Wizard tool can be incredibly useful. Such software is designed to efficiently retrieve deleted, lost, or hidden files.

You can use this tool to recover deleted files that were accidentally removed, lost due to formatting, or not showing up in File Explorer. This hard drive unformat tool can also help recover hidden deleted files.

With its user-friendly interface and efficient scanning algorithms, Data Recovery Wizard is an ideal solution for retrieving lost files. Here are some steps to use it to recover missing files: 1. **Download and Install**: First, visit the official website of Data Recovery Wizard and download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows or Mac). After downloading, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install. 2. **Launch the Program**: Once installation is complete, double-click the desktop shortcut or launch Data Recovery Wizard from the program menu. 3. **Select Recovery Mode**: In the main program interface, you'll see various recovery options. Choose the appropriate mode based on your needs, such as "Quick Scan" (for recently deleted files) or "Deep Scan" (for a more comprehensive search). 4. **Choose the Device to Scan**: Next, select the drive or device where the lost files were located. This could be a hard disk, external storage device, USB drive, SD card, etc. 5. **Start Scanning**: Click the "Start" or "Scan" button, and the program will begin searching for lost files. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the selected device and the number of files. 6. **Preview and Select Files**: After the scan is complete, Data Recovery Wizard will display all found files. You can preview certain file types (like images, documents, etc.) to ensure they can be recovered. Check the ones you want to restore. 7. **Restore the Files**: Finally, click the "Recover" button and choose a secure location to save the recovered files. Avoid saving them back to the original location to prevent overwriting other lost data. 8. **Verify Recovered Files**: Once the recovery process is finished, immediately check the recovered files to ensure they're intact. Keep in mind that the success rate of data recovery can vary due to factors like whether the files have been overwritten or the condition of the storage device. Using Data Recovery Wizard promptly after experiencing data loss generally increases the chances of a successful recovery.

Step 1: Launch the tool and select a location to perform a quick scan.

Step 2. Select the type of lost file, you can also use the “Path” option to filter the lost files.

Select a type to quickly locate the missing files

Step 3. Once you preview the lost files that are not found, click “Recover” to restore them to a new location from the Explorer.

If any of these solutions work for you, share this page on your social media platforms to help others who might be struggling with File Explorer issues.

Why doesn't the File Explorer show files? Why doesn't the file browser display files?

Dealing with an issue where File Explorer doesn't show files can be frustrating, causing inconvenience and even potential data loss.

Fortunately, an understanding of the roots of the problem points to effective solutions.

Look at that!

• ❌ Hidden Files and Folders: Files might not appear if they're marked as hidden, either intentionally or due to malware. To fix this, you can reveal hidden files in File Explorer options on Windows 10 or 11.
• ? File Explorer View Settings: Incorrect view settings could cause files to be invisible. Ensure you've chosen the appropriate view mode (Details, Icons, etc.). Resetting the view settings to default might also be helpful.
• ? Issues with File Indexing: If the file indexing service isn't functioning properly, File Explorer might not display files correctly. Rebuilding the index can resolve this issue.

Abstract

In summary, addressing the issue of files not showing in File Explorer requires systematically ruling out various possible causes.

These solutions effectively address common issues, such as tweaking File Explorer settings, restarting Windows Explorer, clearing thumbnail cache, and rebuilding the search index.

If the “File Explorer not showing files” issue still persists, we recommend using a reliable recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard.

This software can help you recover lost data within seconds. Download the professional Data Recovery Wizard now to enjoy the best data recovery experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Files Not Showing in File Explorer

If you're still unsure about how to fix the “File Explorer not showing files” error, don't worry. There's more information below to help you resolve the issue.

1. Why can't I find my files in File Explorer?

If File Explorer is having trouble finding your files, it might be due to incorrect search options that are impacting its search functionality. This issue can occur when the setting to search both file names and contents is disabled. Whether you accidentally turned it off or a third-party program altered this setting, fixing this configuration can improve File Explorer's ability to accurately locate your files.

How do I search for hidden files in File Explorer?

To show hidden files and folders in Windows, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open File Explorer from the taskbar.

Then choose View > Toolbars > Folder Options.

Step 3: Under the “View” tab, check the box next to “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” under “Advanced settings,” and click “OK.” This setting will ensure that you can see files that may have been hidden deliberately.

Should I reset File Explorer to fix the issue?

Yes, using the Windows Task Manager to reset File Explorer can be helpful when it becomes unresponsive or crashes. This allows you to terminate unresponsive processes, launch new applications, and manage overall system performance. The Task Manager is a valuable troubleshooting tool for addressing various computer issues, including when File Explorer is not functioning properly.

4. How can I search for missing files without a file manager?

The Recent Folders can serve as a viable alternative for finding missing or deleted files on Windows 10/11 without using File Explorer.

What comes next?

Step 1: Type This PC in the search bar.

Step 2: Type %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent in the address bar.

Step 3: Go to the Recents folder.

Step 4. Next, sort the files by “Date” in “Ascending” order to locate the missing files on your Windows 10/11 system.