PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard Forums Community Quizzes Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Quizzes Community Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth LOG IN Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account Browse Articles Quizzes & Games Community Quizzes Hot Personality Quizzes Dating Simulator Learn Something New Support wikiHow Log in / Sign up Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Last Updated: October 8, 2026 Fact Checked Using a Keyboard Shortcut Using the Taskbar Using the Power User Menu Using the Start Menu Using the Run Dialog Troubleshooting This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 192,135 times. Learn more... File Explorer is the built-in tool for browsing and managing files and folders on a Windows PC. You can open File Explorer with a keyboard shortcut, from the taskbar, using Windows Search, and more. In this article, we'll teach you how to find and open File Explorer in Windows 11 and 10. We'll also help you troubleshoot and fix issues with File Explorer not opening. Easiest Ways to Open File Explorer Press the Windows key + E . Click the folder icon on the taskbar or in the Start menu. Right-click the Start menu and select File Explorer . Search for File Explorer in the Windows search bar. Open File Explorer with a Keyboard Shortcut Press ⊞ Win + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer. Pressing the Windows key + E at the same time is a quick way to open File Explorer on all versions of Windows. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Check out our guide to keyboard shortcuts for more useful hotkeys. Check out our guide to keyboard shortcuts for more useful hotkeys. Open File Explorer from the Taskbar Click the file folder icon to open File Explorer . Depending on your version of Windows, you may see a folder icon on the taskbar, which is the bar that runs along the bottom of the screen. Tip: If you don't see the folder icon here but would like to, you can pin it to the taskbar . To do so, press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer, right-click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, and select Pin to Taskbar . Tip: If you don't see the folder icon here but would like to, you can pin it to the taskbar . To do so, press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer, right-click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, and select Pin to Taskbar . Open File Explorer from Search Press the Windows key and type File Explorer . You will see File Explorer appear in the Search results. Once it appears, click it, and File Explorer will open. If you have a Search bar on your taskbar, you can type File Explorer there as well. If you have a Search bar on your taskbar, you can type File Explorer there as well. Open File Explorer from the Power User Menu Right-click the Start menu and select File Explorer . When you use the right mouse button to click the Start menu, the Power User menu appears. Clicking File Explorer on this menu will open the program. You can also open the Power User menu by pressing Windows key + X . You can also open the Power User menu by pressing Windows key + X . Open File Explorer from the Start Menu Click the Start menu and select the File Explorer icon . If you're using Windows 10 or 11, you may see a File Explorer folder icon on the Start menu. On Windows 10, it'll be at the bottom-left. In Windows 11, it might be at the bottom-right. You can also find File Explorer in your list of applications. On Windows 11, scroll down to view your apps in alphabetical order. If you see a grid with categories instead, click Productivity , then click File Explorer . If you're using Windows 10, click the Start menu and then click All apps . File Explorer will be in this list. You can also find File Explorer in your list of applications. On Windows 11, scroll down to view your apps in alphabetical order. If you see a grid with categories instead, click Productivity , then click File Explorer . If you're using Windows 10, click the Start menu and then click All apps . File Explorer will be in this list. Open File Explorer from the Run Dialog Press ⊞ Win + R , type explorer , and press ↵ Enter . If you're used to using the Run dialog in Windows, you can also use it to open File Explorer quickly. Troubleshooting File Explorer Not Opening 1 Close any running File Explorer processes. If File Explorer won't open, it may have a hung process in the background. You can use the Task Manager to fix this. Here's how: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager . Click the Name column header at the top to show the running processes in alphabetical order. Find "Windows Explorer" and click "Restart." If the Restart option isn't available, right-click on "Windows Explorer" and click "End Task." Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager . Click the Name column header at the top to show the running processes in alphabetical order.

Find "Windows Explorer" and click "Restart." If the Restart option isn't available, right-click on "Windows Explorer" and click "End Task." 2 Restart your PC. If File Explorer still won't open, the problem is usually temporary and can be fixed with a simple restart. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source 3 Run the system maintenance troubleshooter (Windows 10). If File Explorer doesn't open after a restart, something else might be going on. The system maintenance troubleshooter will usually fix the problem. Here's what to do in Windows 10: [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Press the Windows key, type control panel , and click Control Panel in the search results. Click the "View by" menu and select Large icons . Click Troubleshooting . Click View all . Click System Maintenance . Click Next , then click Try troubleshooting as an administrator . Press the Windows key, type control panel , and click Control Panel in the search results. Click the "View by" menu and select Large icons . Click Troubleshooting . Click View all . Click System Maintenance . Click Next , then click Try troubleshooting as an administrator . 4 Run an automatic repair (Windows 10). If File Explorer still doesn't open on Windows 10 after running the troubleshooter, follow these steps to repair the registry: [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Click the Start menu and select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery . Click Restart Now under "Advanced Startup." When your PC reboots to a blue screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup repair . Follow the on-screen instructions. Click the Start menu and select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery . Click Restart Now under "Advanced Startup." When your PC reboots to a blue screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup repair . Follow the on-screen instructions. 5 Reset your PC (Windows 11). If File Explorer is still not opening in Windows 11, you can reset Windows 11 without losing your personal files. Here's how: [5] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source First, if you use BitLocker to encrypt your data, make sure you have your BitLocker Recovery Key handy. Click the Start menu and select Settings > System > Recovery . Click the Reset PC button. Select Keep my files , Restore preinstalled apps , and Cloud download . Follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows 11. First, if you use BitLocker to encrypt your data, make sure you have your BitLocker Recovery Key handy. Click the Start menu and select Settings > System > Recovery . Click the Reset PC button. Select Keep my files , Restore preinstalled apps , and Cloud download . Follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows 11. Question What is the difference between Internet Explorer and File Explorer? EpcotMagic Top Answerer Internet Explorer is an internet browser. File Explorer allows you to explore all the files that exist on your computer (much like a file cabinet). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 20 Question Will these methods work for older versions of Windows? Community Answer This article is primarily for users running Windows 8. 8.1, and 10. If you're running an older version of Windows, see How to Open Windows Explorer . Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 12 Question Did Microsoft rename Windows Explorer to File Explorer? Bat 🦇 Top Answerer Yes. It occurred with the release of Windows 8, alongside the addition of the ribbon. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 10 Pin a File Explorer shortcut to the Windows 11 Start menu to make it easier to find. To do so, open the Start menu, type file explorer , right-click File Explorer , and select Pin to Start . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 If you don't like the sort style of the apps on the Windows 11 Start menu, you can change it. In the Start menu, next to "All," you'll see a drop-down menu that contains the options Categories , Grid , and List . List is the option that's most like earlier versions of Windows. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 You Might Also Like ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/fileexplorer/file-explorer-in-windows ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/fileexplorer/fix-file-explorer-if-it-won-t-open-or-start ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/fileexplorer/fix-file-explorer-if-it-won-t-open-or-start ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/fileexplorer/fix-file-explorer-if-it-won-t-open-or-start ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/reset-your-pc About This Article Send fan mail to authors Is this article up to date? Quizzes & Games You Might Also Like Trending Articles Trending Articles Take the Quiz. Face the Truth. 🔥 Decode Yourself 🧩 Featured Videos Hot Takes Only 🔥 Your Daily Dose of Fun 🎉 Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Do Not Sell or Share My Info Not Selling Info wikiHow Tech Help Pro: Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve