File Explorer won't open since Windows 11 update

Question

File Explorer won't open since Windows 11 update

Tricia 0

File Explorer won't open since Windows 11 update. I cannot access any saved files.

Moderator: Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

5 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Lucus-V 5,250 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Tricia,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Your Windows might have corrupt system files.

If you don't have the Restore Point, please scan and fix your system by running these commands on Command Prompt (Run as Administrator):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

If you have any updates, please feel free to let me know.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Lucus-V 5,250 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-09T17:49:51.5933333+00:00

Hi Tricia,
I hope everything is going well on your end. Just wanted to check in and see how things are going for you lately, anything you'd like to share or discuss?
Tricia 0 Reputation points

2026-02-10T22:08:58.6833333+00:00

Hi - things are wonky. I tried all of the solutions featured on YouTube as posted by Microsoft and none worked. I didn't have a reset date entered and I just did a reset. It has messed up all of my history, my additional Gmail accounts, etc. I'm just working along with it and wish it was as easy as it used to be where we could simply reset to a previous time. I understand that new releases bump previous versions. At least I'm able to access my files.

Thanks for checking in.
Lucus-V 5,250 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-10T22:51:26.1166667+00:00

Hi Tricia,
I'm happy to hear that you have managed to resolve the issue, although it made some inconvenience.

If you have further questions, please feel free to make a new thread. We'll always be happy to assist.

Answer 2

John DeV 157.3K Independent Advisor

Please try to return to the login screen

While holding the Left Shift key, click the Power icon at the bottom right > Restart

This will bring you to Windows Recovery Environment

Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates

Uninstall latest quality update

If this doesn't work, Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore

Select the restore point at an earlier date where everything is still working.

Click Next then Finish

Answer 3

Tricia 0

I've tried all the steps already, several times to no avail. I'll need to reset it to a previous version, yet I don't want to risk losing anything. How do I do that, and, will I lose any 'bells and whistles' by reverting to Windows 10?

Answer 4

John DeV 157.3K Independent Advisor

Hi, good day!

When was the last time it worked properly?

What specific update did you install recently?

I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed by clicking "Add comment" below.

Tricia 0 Reputation points

2026-02-01T14:39:42.9433333+00:00

I didn’t install anything but my MS350 just renewed so I’m wondering if they updated anything. It’s been only about a week and a half since it worked properly, so Jan 22 or so was the last time it worked. That’s going in through the File Explorer icon. In my efforts to resolve I’m seeing I can access as I g through the cloud (OneDrive) icon. Can you help? And thanks!

Answer 5

If File Explorer is not opening after a Windows 11 update, it may be due to a known issue that can sometimes occur after updates. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Restart Your Computer: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches.
Run Windows Update: Make sure you have the latest updates installed, as Microsoft often releases fixes for known issues. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.
Use the Task Manager: If File Explorer is unresponsive, you can try to restart it via Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart.
Check for Known Issues: Sometimes, specific updates can cause problems. You can check the Microsoft support pages for any known issues related to your version of Windows 11.
System File Checker: Run the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type sfc /scannow.
Restore Previous Version: If the issue persists, consider restoring your system to a previous restore point when File Explorer was working correctly.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to seek additional support from Microsoft or check their forums for further assistance.

References:

Share via

File Explorer won't open since Windows 11 update

5 answers

Your answer