How to get Windows 11 File Explorer to consistently show tabs

Question

I am running Windows 11 Professional build 22621.ni_release 220506-1250 on two Intel 11th gen core i9 computers, one a Dell XPS-8940 desktop with 64 GB of RAM and one an MSI Stealth GS76 laptop with 32 GB of RAM. File Explorer tabs work perfectly on the MSI. On the Dell, when I open File Explorer directly, tabs do not work. If I open File Explorer through another application, such as Wondershare Uniconverter (to open the file location of a downloaded or converted file), File Explorer opens perfectly with tabs, and I can use it normally by opening additional tabs as needed. Once I close this instance of File Explorer, I no longer have tabs when I open it- only when I open it through another application. Not all applications will open File Explorer with tabs. Is there a way to fix this? I tried using the old fix available on GitHub, but that didn't help.

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for your question and reaching out. I can understand you are  having query\issues related  to  Windows 11 File explorer Tabs.


1.  Try to  Remove File Explorer Cache
Open File Explorer ->  General  ->  Clear  -> Apply

2.  Run System File Checker

    Run sfc /scannow from elevated prompt.

3.  Run below DISM commands  from elevated prompt.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online  /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth


--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--

Answer 2

Tried all this. I have tried everything up to and including rolling back updates, clean boot, in-place upgrade. I have logged in with a local account and a different Microsoft account, both of which open File Explorer with tabs. This would appear to be a registry setting problem associated with File Explorer and my normal log in MSFT account. I just don't know where in the registry this setting would be.