14 reasons why File Explorer doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)

File Explorer doesn’t work in Windows 10 — this can happen for many reasons, from a frozen process to corrupted system files or third‑party conflicts. In this article you’ll learn the 14 most common causes of File Explorer problems and step‑by‑step fixes you can apply, from quick restarts to system repairs and safe diagnostic techniques.

Key Takeaway

Restarting explorer.exe, checking for corrupt system files with SFC/DISM, and isolating third‑party shell extensions or security software are the fastest, most reliable ways to restore File Explorer functionality in Windows 10.

Quick Fix Guide

Quick Fix Guide

Reason for the Problem	Quick Solution
Explorer process crashed or frozen	Restart explorer.exe from Task Manager.
Corrupted File Explorer settings / Quick Access cache	Clear Quick Access history in Folder Options.
Corrupted thumbnail / icon cache	Rebuild the icon and thumbnail cache via a PowerShell or command prompt script.
Faulty shell extensions (context menu handlers)	Disable non‑Microsoft shell extensions with ShellExView or Autoruns.
Corrupted user profile	Test with a new local user account and migrate data if it fixes the issue.
Corrupted system files	Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
Problematic Windows Update	Uninstall the recent update or roll back to a previous build.
Third‑party antivirus or security software interference	Temporarily disable or uninstall the security software.
Low disk space or disk errors	Free disk space and run chkdsk /f /r on the drive.
Network drives / unreachable locations causing hangs	Disconnect problematic mapped drives or disable auto‑reconnect.
File associations or default apps broken	Reset file associations in Settings > Apps > Default apps.
Malware or potentially unwanted programs	Scan with Windows Defender Offline or a reputable anti‑malware tool.
Outdated or buggy graphics drivers	Update or roll back the display driver in Device Manager.
Excessive files / very large folder or long path names	Move or reorganize large folders, use PowerShell to inspect long paths.

Detailed Fixes for “File Explorer doesn’t work in Windows 10”

H3: 1. Explorer process crashed or frozen
Why it causes the problem
Explorer.exe hosts the File Explorer UI; if it crashes or hangs, windows, taskbar, or context menus may freeze or disappear.

Step-by-step solution

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
2. If the Processes list is collapsed, click More details.
3. Find Windows Explorer (or explorer.exe), select it, and click Restart.
4. If Explorer is not listed: in Task Manager, go to File > Run new task, type explorer.exe and press Enter.

Notes: Restarting is non‑destructive and often fixes transient hangs immediately.

H3: 2. Corrupted File Explorer settings / Quick Access cache
Why it causes the problem
Quick Access or Folder View settings can become corrupted and cause explorer to freeze when browsing or opening folders.

Step-by-step solution

1. Open File Explorer, click the View tab, then Options > Change folder and search options.
2. Under Privacy, click Clear next to Clear File Explorer history and uncheck Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access temporarily.
3. If problem persists, reset file explorer view settings: in the same Folder Options, click Restore Defaults.

Tip: Clearing Quick Access often resolves crashes that occur only when accessing the Quick Access pane.

H3: 3. Corrupted thumbnail / icon cache
Why it causes the problem
Broken icon or thumbnail caches can slow or crash File Explorer when rendering icons or previews.

Step-by-step solution (safe)

1. Close File Explorer (restart explorer.exe as above).
2. Open Command Prompt (Admin): press Windows key, type cmd, right‑click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator.
3. Run these commands one by one:
   • taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
   • cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
   • del IconCache.db /a
   • *del /f /s /q thumbnail.db**
   • start explorer.exe
4. Log out and back in if necessary.

Note: On some systems the cache file is in %localappdata%; deleting it forces Windows to rebuild caches.

H3: 4. Faulty shell extensions or context menu handlers
Why it causes the problem
Third‑party shell extensions add options to right‑click menus; buggy extensions can hang File Explorer when menus are created.

Step-by-step solution

1. Download ShellExView (NirSoft) or Autoruns (Microsoft Sysinternals). These are trusted diagnostic tools.
2. Run the tool, sort by Company and focus on non‑Microsoft entries.
3. Disable third‑party context menu handlers one by one (or in groups), then restart explorer.exe to test.
4. Re-enable those that were unrelated and keep disabled the culprit.

Warning: Only disable shell extensions from unknown or third‑party vendors; Microsoft extensions should generally remain enabled.

H3: 5. Corrupted user profile
Why it causes the problem
A damaged profile can cause Explorer settings, registry keys, or cached data to break, affecting only that user.

Step-by-step solution

1. Create a new local test user: Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC > I don’t have this person’s sign‑in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
2. Sign into the new account and check if File Explorer works.
3. If it does, migrate user data from C:\Users\ to the new profile and recreate any settings. Consider copying Documents, Pictures, and AppData selectively.

Tip: Avoid copying hidden files like NTUSER.DAT from a broken profile; copy only data and reconfigure apps.

H3: 6. Corrupted system files (SFC/DISM)
Why it causes the problem
Windows system files used by Explorer can become damaged; SFC and DISM repair them.

Step-by-step solution

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run sfc /scannow and wait for completion. If SFC finds errors it can fix some automatically.
3. If SFC fails or reports unrepairable files, run:
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again.
5. Restart your PC.

Notes: This can take 10–30 minutes. Have a stable internet connection for DISM to repair from Windows Update if needed.

H3: 7. Recent Windows Update causing conflicts
Why it causes the problem
Occasionally updates introduce regressions affecting Explorer behavior.

Step-by-step solution

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
2. Click Uninstall updates at the top, then select the recent update and click Uninstall.
3. If the issue started after a feature update, consider rolling back under Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows 10 (if available).
4. Pause updates temporarily via Windows Update > Advanced options.

Tip: Before uninstalling major updates, create a restore point or backup important data.

H3: 8. Third‑party antivirus or security software interference
Why it causes the problem
Antivirus or security suites can hook into Explorer to scan files, and a misbehaving product can block or crash Explorer.

Step-by-step solution

1. Temporarily disable real‑time protection: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Real‑time protection (if using Windows Defender) or use the AV vendor’s control panel.
2. Test explorer behavior; if it fixes the issue, update or reinstall the security software.
3. If necessary, uninstall the third‑party AV from Control Panel > Programs and Features and reboot, then test. Use vendor removal tools if recommended.

Warning: Only disable security temporarily and disconnect from risky networks if you do.

H3: 9. Low disk space or disk errors
Why it causes the problem
Explorer can become unresponsive if the system drive is critically low on space or the disk has errors.

Step-by-step solution

1. Check free space: open This PC and view available space on C:. Aim to free at least 10% of the disk.
2. Use Settings > System > Storage to remove temporary files or run Storage Sense.
3. To check the disk: open Command Prompt (Admin) and run chkdsk C: /f /r. You may be prompted to schedule at next reboot—agree and reboot.
4. Replace failing drives if SMART status shows issues (use tools like CrystalDiskInfo or check BIOS/UEFI SMART data).

Tip: Moving large user folders (Downloads, Videos) to a secondary drive can help short‑term.

H3: 10. Network drives or unreachable locations causing hangs
Why it causes the problem
Explorer may hang when trying to enumerate or access mapped network drives that are offline or slow.

Step-by-step solution

1. Disconnect problematic drives: open This PC, right‑click a mapped drive, and choose Disconnect.
2. In File Explorer, avoid opening network locations while diagnosing; test with local folders.
3. If you need network drives, remap them: in This PC, click Map network drive, check Reconnect at sign‑in only if reliable.
4. Use net use to view mapped drives: open Command Prompt and run net use to remove offline mappings with net use Z: /delete (replace Z: with the drive letter).

Tip: Use Offline Files sparingly; sync conflicts can also slow Explorer.

H3: 11. File associations or default apps broken
Why it causes the problem
Broken or missing file associations can cause Explorer to behave oddly when trying to show previews or open files.

Step-by-step solution

1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
2. Reset defaults with Reset under Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults.
3. For specific extensions, click a specific category (e.g., Photo viewer) and reassign the right app.
4. Alternatively, right‑click a file, choose Open with > Choose another app, select the app, check Always use this app, and click OK.

H3: 12. Malware or potentially unwanted programs
Why it causes the problem
Malicious software can inject code or corrupt system components that File Explorer depends on.

Step-by-step solution

1. Run a full scan with Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Full scan.
2. For stubborn malware, create a Windows Defender Offline scan: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
3. Consider a second‑opinion scanner (Malwarebytes) and run it in Safe Mode for better detection.
4. Remove detected threats and reboot.

Warning: If malware prevents scanning, boot from rescue media provided by reputable AV vendors and follow their removal instructions.

H3: 13. Outdated or problematic graphics/display drivers
Why it causes the problem
Explorer relies on the Windows compositor and GPU for rendering; driver bugs can cause freezes or visual glitches.

Step-by-step solution

1. Open Device Manager (press Windows key + X > Device Manager).
2. Expand Display adapters, right‑click the adapter, and select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver.
3. If a recent driver caused the issue, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
4. Alternatively, download drivers directly from the GPU vendor (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) and install the stable WHQL release.

Tip: Use Safe Mode to uninstall drivers if the desktop is unusable.

H3: 14. Excessive files in a folder, very long paths or deep nesting
Why it causes the problem
Opening a folder with thousands of files, extremely long file paths, or very long filenames can make Explorer hang or crash.

Step-by-step solution

1. Use Command Prompt or PowerShell to inspect and move files without loading icons:
   • Open PowerShell and run Get-ChildItem -Path “C:\path\to\folder” -Recurse | Measure-Object to count items.
2. To move files: robocopy C:\bigfolder D:\newlocation /E /MOV or use xcopy to copy and then delete.
3. Use tools like Long Path Tool or enable long path support in Windows 10 (requires group policy or registry change) if hitting the 260 character limit:
   • Enable via Group Policy: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem > Enable Win32 long paths (set to Enabled) or add LongPathsEnabled = 1 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem (Registry). Restart after change.

Warning: Always back up important data before bulk moves or registry edits.

Additional Section: Preventive Maintenance and When to Seek Help

Preventive maintenance

• Keep Windows updated and drivers current, but delay major feature updates until they are stable for your hardware.
• Keep at least 10–15% free space on the system drive.
• Regularly clear temporary files with Settings > System > Storage or Disk Cleanup.
• Create system restore points before major changes and maintain a regular backup strategy (File History, OneDrive, or full image backups).

When to seek professional help

• If multiple user accounts show the same Explorer problem after SFC/DISM and disk checks, it may indicate deeper OS corruption; consider an in‑place upgrade/repair install of Windows 10.
• If SMART disk checks indicate imminent drive failure, clone the drive and replace it immediately.
• For persistent malware that resists removal, consult a security specialist.

FAQ

Q: Can I reset File Explorer to factory defaults?
A: Yes — clear Quick Access history (File Explorer > View > Options > Clear), reset Folder Options to defaults, and run sfc /scannow; for a full UI reset, recreate the user profile or perform an in‑place repair.

Q: Will reinstalling Windows 10 always fix Explorer problems?
A: A clean reinstall or in‑place repair usually fixes software‑related Explorer issues, but you should back up data first; hardware faults or malware might persist if not thoroughly addressed.

Q: Is it safe to use tools like ShellExView or Autoruns?
A: Yes, they are widely used diagnostic tools; use them to disable extensions (not delete) and only tweak one change at a time so you can revert if necessary.

Q: How can I recover unsaved files if Explorer crashes while working?
A: Use File History, OneDrive version history, or application‑specific autosave/recover features. For unsaved app documents, open the application and check recovery prompts or temporary files in %appdata%.

Q: Are there command‑line alternatives to File Explorer?
A: Yes — PowerShell, Command Prompt, and third‑party file managers (e.g., Total Commander, FreeCommander) can manage files when Explorer is unreliable.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting why File Explorer doesn’t work in Windows 10 usually starts with restarting explorer.exe, checking for corrupt system files with SFC/DISM, and isolating third‑party extensions or security software. If those steps fail, follow the systematic fixes above (disk checks, new user test, driver updates, and malware scans) before performing more invasive repairs.