Solved When computer updates File Explorer no longer works.

Hi this is making me so angry! I have a Dell Latitude and a Dell Inspiron windows 11. A few weeks ago I could not open file Explorer on my Dell Inspiron and had to reset the whole system. Then when I was helping my friend setup her new Dell we did all the updates on her new Dell Desktop the same thing happened and I had to reset her computer. Then last night my Dell Latitude updated and now my File Explorer does not work, now I know why because the new updates are messing up File Explorer. I tried all the Youtube fixes and nothing and I end up having to reset. This should not be happening with your software but it is. Can you tell me how to fix this computer without doing a reset. Recovery was not an option in all three computers because for some reason when I turn it on it does not work.

Steadyone said:

This should not be happening with your software but it is. Can you tell me how to fix this computer without doing a reset.

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We volunteers helping others never know if or when any Microsoft employee will be visiting or reading the forum so it's best to report that via the Feedback Hub [on the Start menu] since we only get a License to use the program. And most Windows forums have no tie with Microsoft.

I have several computers with Win10 or Win11 and Home or Pro. I've never seen that issue happen on them, just did the Patch Tuesday updates last couple of days and no issues yet. I always use File Explorer to check they still connect to my NAS drive, assures all connections still work.

EDIT: I forgot to ask, is it only that the icon on the Taskbar won't open File Exporer? Does the WinKey + E work? Does putting explore in the Search box allow opening File Explorer?

No one else has reported this problem. If you are using some third party app that alters the GUI, uninstall it.

When the new Explorer fails to load, or has a an issue like a blank toolbar, the two main things to check are 1) are there any Explorer mods installed, and 2) is the display driver up to date.

From what you described, it doesn't sound like you've installed any mods, but just to confirm, have you installed ExplorerPatcher, StartAllBack, WindHawk or enabled/disabled any Explorer features using ViveTool or StagingTool?

So that you have some sort of working Explorer while troubleshooting, I recommend switching to the old Windows 10 Explorer using this:

Then, install any BIOS update available for your computer. After that, look for a display driver update, either from the computer maker or the GPU maker (if you have a separate GPU).

Some computers (I think just older ones) don't have a display driver that's compatible with the new Explorer. In such cases, using the Windows 10 Explorer (or going back to Windows 10) is the workaround for now.

No issue with File Explorer on a 2014 HP Envy 17 TS Notebook upgraded from Win10 to the unsupported Win11.

I've run into the same issue today after allowing the latest Windows update. Windows Explorer just crashes and restarts itself (i.e. desktop and taskbar momentarily disappear before redrawing themselves) every time I try to open MyPC or click on a folder shortcut. Right-clicking on MyPC and selecting Properties doesn't seem to do anythign at all.

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 22H2
OS build 22621.3155
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22684.1000.0

Here's what I did to fix it today. Go to Settings > Windows Updates > Update History > Uninstall Updates (a "tab" at the very bottom of the list). What I found there were two files with an install date of today -- a Windows Update and a Security update (sorry I no longer have the KB numbers for them). I tried uninstalling the Windows update a couple times with a machine restart after each one, but I don't think it worked, as the OS build on System > About still said I was on build 22621.3155 and I still had the same issue.

But after uninstalling today's security update and restarting the machine, I find myself back on build 22621.2428 and Windows Explorer works again!

Did you pause windows updates? If not, the update will reinstall.
It would help us help you if your would complete the system specs section of your forum profile.
Are you running 11 on incompatible hardware? Do you have ANY third party app installed that alters the GUI? If so uninstall it

My first suggestion would be that you make sure you have no corrupt system files going into the update.

Open a command prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair. If it found corruption it could not fix followup with this command (note the spaces)
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Restart computer

(Note-you can follow up with another sfc /scannow command to make sure that dism repaired the files)

Steadyone said:

Hi this is making me so angry! I have a Dell Latitude and a Dell Inspiron windows 11. A few weeks ago I could not open file Explorer on my Dell Inspiron and had to reset the whole system. Then when I was helping my friend setup her new Dell we did all the updates on her new Dell Desktop the same thing happened and I had to reset her computer. Then last night my Dell Latitude updated and now my File Explorer does not work, now I know why because the new updates are messing up File Explorer. I tried all the Youtube fixes and nothing and I end up having to reset. This should not be happening with your software but it is. Can you tell me how to fix this computer without doing a reset. Recovery was not an option in all three computers because for some reason when I turn it on it does not work.

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Yeah, like someone else said, we aren’t Microsoft.

I’d like to know if “all the updates” that you did were via Dell software updating, receiving Dell software updates or Microsoft Windows Update, receiving Windows updates?

What does “and now my File Explorer does not work” mean? How does it not work? You need to be a bit more descriptive of your problem.

LesFerch said:

From what you described, it doesn't sound like you've installed any mods, but just to confirm, have you installed ExplorerPatcher, StartAllBack, WindHawk or enabled/disabled any Explorer features using ViveTool or StagingTool?

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Yep. One of these is most likely the cause.

I had removed File Explorer tabs with Vivetool, and the January 23rd Cumulative Update Preview (KB5034204)... broke File Explorer for me. I undid the Vivetool tweak, and File Explorer worked again.

NOTE: The January 23rd update was a preview of the February 13th update. So either one could be the culprit.







For the new folks...

Microsoft is planning some "serious" updates that will have hit everyone's computer by patch Tuesday in April.
Best advice is to start using 3rd party backup software... now, before it's too late...



In fact, if you're on Windows 11, you should be using 3rd party backup software.
Microsoft has broken Windows 11 tweaks (on purpose), and broken Windows 11 by accident... numerous times.
So... use a safety net. Also known as... backup software.

I have used this to successfully block unwanted updates. The download link is part way down the page. How to Hide/Stop/Block Specific Updates on Windows 10/11? - MiniTool

Microsoft is planning some "serious" updates that will have hit everyone's computer by patch Tuesday in April.
Best advice is to start using 3rd party backup software... now, before it's too late...

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Does Microsoft not see the irony here. I can be and am always careful about keeping suspicious files out of my system. But I am defenseless against MS's forced updates.

howards said:

Does Microsoft not see the irony here. I can be and am always careful about keeping suspicious files out of my system. But I am defenseless against MS's forced updates.

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Yes, we all see the irony.
We've just gotten a bit more used to it, that's all.

Ghot said:

Yes, we all see the irony.
We've just gotten a bit more used to it, that's all.

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Yup, got first computer in '92, retired in '94 and got new job in a computer store a week later, have had every version of Windows and Windows NT since except ME and Vista [although have had to work on them], have always been changes. I finally junked WinXP but still have 7, 10 & 11 plus an old Toshiba Laptop with MS-DOS 6 and Win3.1.

have had every version of Windows and Windows NT, have always been changes

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Yes, but it's only been the past couple years where I've started to feel completetly defenseless against them. It used to be you could delay and delay, disable certain services, force-trick updates off for a while, etc. And it feels like there's some lone engineer sitting in a closet at MS, mumbling "I caught you, you little sh*t, trying to get around my updates; you will not beat me again this time."

Go back to using Windows 10. Sometimes I wonder why some people are using Eleven when they dislike it so much. Complaining won’t make it work how you want it to...

I managed to fix the issue, I did the following two steps and then restarted, not sure if they are both required or just one:

1) Used ViVeTool and run /fullreset - Releases · thebookisclosed/ViVe
2) Used ViVeTool GUI, selected the highest built, sorted by Feature State and changed everything that was "Enabled" or "Disabled" back to "Default" - Releases · PeterStrick/ViVeTool-GUI

Thanks to the post from Ghot for suggesting the use of ViVeTool :)

Dash said:

I managed to fix the issue, I did the following two steps and then restarted, not sure if they are both required or just one:

1) Used ViVeTool and run /fullreset - Releases · thebookisclosed/ViVe
2) Used ViVeTool GUI, selected the highest built, sorted by Feature State and changed everything that was "Enabled" or "Disabled" back to "Default" - Releases · PeterStrick/ViVeTool-GUI

Thanks to the post from Ghot for suggesting the use of ViVeTool :)

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Good to hear you got it sorted. Step (2) is redundant.

Hi all thanks for responding! I know windows 11 has issues this happened on three computers I have worked with. It was my two computers and my friends computer when updates were installed in the last month. I did try rolling back the 2024-02 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034765). It is a bug. I still have been trying find answers to fix file explorer.Also with this new update my photo viewer no longer works as well. I have had to do a reset to the other two computers because of this Microsoft bug. I even turned off updates but Microsoft overrides it and it downloads. So Microsoft has a lot to answer for. This Latitude is a 2021 model the other one I have is a 2023 it had windows 11 on the OS. I am going to try the tool you all are talking about to see of that works. Oh and by the way I saw in the news windows 10 will no longer have updates that is why many switched to 11. We are forced which is not at all cool.

Look what was just posted on this forum. The update where having problems with! Now you all might want to watch out for this.

Windows 11 Insider Dev Build 26058.1300 (KB5036082) or 26058.1400 (KB5036080) 24H2 - Feb. 22