How to Fix the Issue of File Explorer Not Opening in Windows 10 or Windows 11

"I just got a new desktop with a clean install of Windows 10. However, now when I try to launch File Explorer from the taskbar or Start menu, it won't open. I also can't open any folders. How can I fix this issue and get File Explorer to work on Windows 10? I need access to some important files. Please help!"

You can try several effective methods to fix the issue with File Explorer not opening in Windows 10 or Windows 11. You can jump straight to the section that interests you most:

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"Unable to open the Overview feature in Windows 10/11 File Explorer"

Sometimes, when you try to launch File Explorer from the taskbar to open certain files or folders, it doesn't show any window. This issue also occurs in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, preventing users from accessing any of their files or folders.

Nowadays, the issue appears more frequently on Windows 10, thus making more and more users victims of the "folders won't open" problem. If you can't open File Explorer and, as a result, folders or files in Windows 10, this article will provide you with the right solutions.

Try each of these steps to see which one finally helps you resolve the problem and regain access to your files and folders.

Additional Tip: How to Recover Data When File Explorer Won't Open

If your folder or hard drive partition becomes inaccessible and File Explorer won't open it, the best thing to do is try using a professional data recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard to help with unexpected data loss situations.

You may try using the "Data Recovery Wizard" tool, which allows you to access and locate all data within folders or hard drive partitions. Activation might be required before recovery. It's recommended that you preview the found files. Essentially, all files that can be previewed are restorable. First, preview the files, then activate the software to recover all data.

Step 1: Select the folder from where you lost your files

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool. Under “Select Location,” choose “Select Folder.” Click “Browse,” locate the missing folder, then hit “OK” to scan.

Select the folder to scan

Step 2: Preview the found files in the lost folder

If you can remember the folder name, type it in the search box to quickly locate the missing files. Then, open the found folder and double-click to preview the scanned files. Alternatively, you can use the "Filter" feature to look for a specific file type.

Select the folder you wish to recover

Step 3: Recover and save the lost folder

Finally, select the folders and files you need and click “Recover” to save the retrieved data to a new secure location on your computer.

Remember to save the file in another secure location, and proceed to Step 2 for more solutions to fix the File Explorer not opening issue.

9 Ways to Fix File Explorer Not Opening in Windows 10/11

To resolve the Taskbar issue without losing any data, we recommend trying the solutions provided below. You can attempt either of the methods to repair and restore File Explorer, so it functions normally and opens your files or folders again:

Method 1: Restart File Explorer using Task Manager

Step 1: Press "Ctrl + Alt + Del" to open the "Task Manager." From there, locate "Windows Explorer."

Step 2: Right-click on Windows Explorer and select End Task.

Step 3: At the top of the Task Manager window, click "File" and then select "Run new task."

Step 4: Type “explorer.exe” in the empty field, and press “Enter.”

Method 2: Check for Updates

New updates typically address known issues with Windows, which could include errors that cause "File Explorer not opening from taskbar" in Windows 10. Therefore, if new updates are available, you should update your Windows to the latest version.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button, and then type "update."

Step 2: Choose "Check for Updates."

Step 3: Windows will display any available updates. Click Install now to update your version of Windows.

Method 3: Restart Your Computer

To make sure all pending updates are installed, you'll need to restart your computer. After that, try opening File Explorer to see if it works correctly.

Method 4: Create a New Path for File Explorer

Step 1: Right-click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, and then select 'Unpin from taskbar.'

Step 2: Right-click on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.

Step 3: In the “Create Shortcut” window, type in the following location: “C:\Windows\explorer.exe,” and then click “Next.”

Step 4: Rename the file “File Browser,” and click Finish.

Step 5: Right-click the new shortcut and select "Pin to Taskbar."

Create a new File Explorer shortcut to resolve the issue of inability to open it.

Once you've gone through all the steps, you can double-click the new shortcut to check if it opens File Explorer. If it works correctly, you can right-click the taskbar icon and select “Pin to Taskbar” to quickly access files or folders by opening File Explorer from the taskbar.

Method 5: Reset File Explorer to Default Settings

If File Explorer won't open in Windows 10, you can also try resetting its settings to default through File Explorer Options.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button, and then type File Explorer Options.

Step 2: Reset the File Explorer defaults.

Under the General tab, click Clear to clear the File Explorer history, and then click Restore Defaults. Under the View tab, click Reset Folders > Restore Defaults. Under the Search tab, simply click Restore Defaults.

Method 6: Tweak Your Advanced System Settings

If File Explorer isn't opening on Windows, you can try troubleshooting by optimizing advanced system settings, which resets explorer.exe.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button and then search for "Control Panel."

Step 2: Next, go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings.

Step 3: Click "Settings" under "Performance."

Step 4: On the Advanced tab, make sure that the radio button for Best performance is selected.

Step 5: Click on the "Change..." button under "Virtual Memory"

Step 6: Check the box for "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives."

Method 7: Clean Your Disk

Another thing you can do if File Explorer won't open on your Windows 10 computer is to clean up your disk to free up more space on your device. Since you can't access File Explorer, you'll need to use the Disk Cleanup tool to clean your disk.

Step 1: Right-click the drive you want to clean up.

Step 2: Run Disk Cleanup, choose the drive you want to clean up, and then click OK.

Step 3: Select all the files listed and click “OK.”

Step 4. Tap “Delete File” in the confirmation prompt. (To free up even more space, select “Free up system space.”)

If you have any files that you want to retrieve after deletion, you can learn here how to recover permanently deleted files.

Method 8: Run the System Maintenance troubleshooter

Running a System Maintenance Troubleshooter can automatically diagnose and fix common computer issues, which might resolve the problem causing "File Explorer not opening."

Step 1: Click the “Start” button, search for and run “Control Panel.”

Step 2. Go to Troubleshooting > View All > System Maintenance.

Step 3: In the new window, click Next, and then choose Run the troubleshooter as an administrator.

Method 9: Run the System File Checker utility

Corrupted or missing system files can also be the reason for File Explorer not opening in Windows 10. Fortunately, you can easily run the Windows System File Checker tool to fix this issue.

Step 1: Click the "Start" button and type cmd.

Step 2: Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type sfc /scannow to scan and repair any corrupted or missing system files on your computer.

Bottom line

In most cases, one of the above methods should resolve the issue. If none of the above suggestions fix the “File Explorer won't open from Taskbar” problem in Windows 10, you can provide feedback to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub app on your computer.