File Explorer Bugs: How to Fix on Your Windows 10/11 ?

File Explorer is an essential component of the Windows operating system that enables users to move around their files and directories. It’s a powerful tool with an easy-to-use interface for organising, copying, and transferring data, and it’s necessary for everyday computer tasks. However, File Explorer, like any other piece of software, can suffer from problems that lead users to be frustrated and inconvenient. File Explorer bugs may be quite annoying, whether they are sluggish to open, crash often, or fail to show files and directories correctly. Fortunately, there are various troubleshooting solutions available to help you resolve these difficulties and resume utilising this crucial tool with ease. In this post, we’ll look at some of the most frequent File Explorer errors and show you how to solve them.

Table of Contents

• 1. File Explorer is Slow to Open or Respond
• 2. Files or Folders are Missing or Not Showing
• 3. File Explorer Crashes or Freezes
• 4. File Explorer Keeps Refreshing
• 5. File Explorer is Not Responding to Right-Click
• 6. File Explorer Keeps Opening New Windows
• Conclusion

1. File Explorer is Slow to Open or Respond

There might be various reasons why File Explorer takes so long to open or react. One probable cause is that a directory has an excessive number of files and folders. Try organising your files into subfolders or eliminating unnecessary files to resolve this. Another possibility is an out-of-date or damaged system file. In this situation, open the Command Prompt and type “sfc /scannow” to launch the System File Checker utility.

2. Files or Folders are Missing or Not Showing

If you can’t find a file or folder in File Explorer, it could not be in the current directory. Try looking for it using the search box at the top right of the window. If it still does not appear, go to the View tab and choose “Hidden items.”

If the file or folder is still missing, a faulty index might be to blame. Try rebuilding the search index in this situation by heading to Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild.

3. File Explorer Crashes or Freezes

Note: This method is only possible when you have the ShellExView software. If you don’t have it, then download it here.

If File Explorer routinely crashes or freezes, it might be due to a defective add-ons or extension. Disable all add-ons and extensions by selecting File > Options > Add-Ins > Manage COM. Go to Add-ins. If the problem persists, it may be the result of a corrupted Windows Explorer shell extension. Disabling all non-Microsoft shell extensions may be accomplished by entering “ShellExView” into the Start menu and selecting “Disable Selected Items” from the context menu.

4. File Explorer Keeps Refreshing

If File Explorer continues refreshing, it might be because the thumbnail cache is corrupted. Clear the thumbnail cache by entering “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu, choosing your primary drive, then checking “Thumbnails” under “Files to delete.” Alternatively, go to File Explorer Options > View > Always show icons, never thumbnails to disable thumbnail previews entirely.

5. File Explorer is Not Responding to Right-Click

Note: This method is only possible when you have the ShellExView software. If you don’t have it, then download it here.

A broken context menu handler might be the cause of your inability to right-click on files or folders in File Explorer. Disabling non-Microsoft context menu handlers may be accomplished by entering “ShellExView” into the Start menu and selecting “Disable Selected Items” from the context menu. Alternatively, go to File Explorer Options > View > Reset Folders to reset the context menu.

6. File Explorer Keeps Opening New Windows

WARNING: Apply this method only if you’re familiar with the Windows Registry Editor. Otherwise, don’t do anything; instead, get help from any professionals.

If you continuously seeing additional windows when you double-click on a folder in File Explorer, it might be due to a corrupted registry key. Try changing the default folder settings in the Start menu by entering “regedit” and heading to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell. To backup the registry key, right-click on “shell” and select “Export.” Then, right-click “shell” once more and select “Delete.” Restart your computer and attempt again to open directories in File Explorer.

Conclusion

On Windows 10/11, File Explorer is an essential tool for navigating and organising files. However, like with any program, it is susceptible to errors and malfunctions that can impair performance and impede productivity. Fortunately, you may quickly and simply resolve typical File Explorer errors by following the troubleshooting steps given in this article.

There are various effective techniques for addressing File Explorer bugs, including utilising the built-in troubleshooter, doing a disk check, and deactivating problematic extensions using ShellExView. By following these instructions and being patient, you may restore File Explorer’s functionality and resume handling your files with ease.

Remember to always be cautious while downloading and using third-party software, so only download from trusted sites and carefully follow instructions. You can overcome File Explorer bugs and go back to working productively on your Windows PC with the appropriate technique and a little troubleshooting know-how.

Thank You