If File Explorer won’t open or start in Windows, it makes everyday tasks like finding files, opening folders, or managing storage difficult. This article walks through simple troubleshooting steps—such as checking for updates, restarting your device, and resetting Windows—to help restore File Explorer and get it working again.

Find and open File Explorer in Windows, and customize Quick access by pinning and removing files and folders.

Fixes an issue that occurs when Windows Explorer is hosting a shell extension that was created by using Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) and the Explorer.exe process stops responding (hangs).

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows.

Summary After provisioning a PC with a Windows 11, version 24H2 or a Windows 11, version 25H2 monthly cumulative update released on or after July 2025 (such as KB5062553 or KB5065789), XAML-dependent modern apps such as Explorer, the Start menu, SystemSettings, Taskbar and Windows Search might experience difficulties.

Follow these steps to automatically diagnose and repair problems with files and folders in Windows. These problems might include the inablility to delete files or folders from the Recycle Bin, or troubles with trying to copy, move, rename, or delete a file. Select the Download button on this page. In the File Download dialog box, click Run or Open, and then follow the steps in the File and ...

Updates Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to fix performance issues that occur when you open a folder that contains corrupted .wav files.

Fixes an issue in which the Explorer.exe process continuously crashes and restarts after you upgrade to Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview.

Symptoms Consider the following scenario: You select the Launch folder windows in a separate process option for Windows Explorer on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. You redirect the My Documents folder to an unavailable network location. You try to use a common Windows Explorer-dependent method. For example, you try to start Explorer.exe or to start Control Panel ...

Fixes a reliability issue in which the Explorer.exe process continuously crashes after the first instance in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview.