Many users have reported this issue that when they click on the File Explorer icon present in the taskbar of their Windows 11/10 computer, they receive an error, and are unable to open File Explorer. Though there are many ways to open File Explorer of Windows 11/10 OS, users receive the same error every time. The error message goes like this:
Explorer.EXE – Windows cannot find “. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
If you are also having the same problem, then the solutions covered in this post might be helpful to you.
Windows cannot find explorer.exe, Make sure you typed the name correctly
Here is a list of solutions that might help you when you are not able to open File Explorer:
- Change File Explorer Options
- Run System File Checker sfc /scannow
- Perform the antivirus scan
- Delete Explorer related entries from Registry Editor
- Restore your computer.
Let’s check all these solutions one by one.
1] Change File Explorer Options
Make sure you have set File Explorer to open with This PC instead of Quick Access. This solution has helped hundreds of users. Let’s check the steps to use this solution:
- Click on the Search box of Windows 11/10 computer
- Type file explorer options
- Hit the Enter key. This will open the File Explorer Options box
- Go to the General tab
- Click on the drop-down menu icon available for Open File Explorer to option
- Select the This PC option
- Click on the Apply button
- Click on the OK button.
Now try to open File Explorer. It should work.
2] Run System File Checker sfc /scannow
Windows 11/10 OS comes with a built-in command-line System File Checker tool that helps the users to scan their computer for corrupt or missing system files and replace them with fresh data. If File Explorer is not opening because of corrupt system files, then performing the system scan using this tool might fix this issue. So, run System File Checker sfc /scannow in your Windows 11/10 computer and see if it solves your problem.
3] Perform the antivirus scan
If your computer is infected with some virus, chances are it has disabled the explorer.exe file because of which you are not able to open file Explorer. So, you should perform the antivirus scan for your computer. It is anyway always good to perform antivirus scans from time to time. If your antivirus is good enough, it will remove such virus(es), and then you will be able to open File Explorer again. If your antivirus is not good, then try to use some other antivirus. There are many good and free antivirus tools that you can use.
Related: Fix File Explorer will not open in Windows.
4] Delete Explorer related entries from Registry Editor
Before trying this solution, it is recommended to backup Registry in your Windows 11/10 computer. If something wrong happens, you will be able to restore the Registry. Once you have done that, follow these steps:
- Use Win+R hotkey to open the Run Command box
- Type regedit in the available text field
- Press the Enter key. This will open the Registry Editor window
- Access the Image File Execution Options Registry key. The path is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
- Under the Image File Execution Options Registry key, check if iexplorer.exe and Explorer.exe Registry entries are present. If yes, delete both the entries
- Now access the Winlogon Registry key. The path is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- On the right-hand part of the Winlogon Registry key, double-click on the Shell name string value. This will open a separate box
- In that box, you will see explorer.exe in the Value data field. If there are some other entries in that field, select and delete them. Keep only explorer.exe in that field
- Press the OK button
- Restart your computer.
This might solve the issue and you will be able to open File Explorer.
5] Restore your computer
Sometimes, restoring your computer to an earlier state also helps a lot in solving various problems. This might work in this case too. So, if you have created system restore points, use one of that system restores points to restore your computer. After that, check if you are able to open File Explorer.
If nothing works, then you should reset your computer.
Hope something from these solutions will work for you.
Where is explorer.exe located?
Explorer.exe file is located under the Windows folder. Its location is C:\Windows. If you have installed Windows in some other drive, then access that drive and then open the Windows folder to access the explorer.exe file. In other cases, if the explorer.exe file is a virus or trojan, then it can be located anywhere, and that will create problems on your computer. In this case, open Task Manager, find its location and remove it from your computer.
Related: Windows cannot find Make sure you typed the name correctly
How do I fix a corrupted explorer.exe file?
If the explorer.exe file is corrupted on your Windows 11/10 computer and you are not able to open File Explorer, then you can try some helpful solutions like:
- Perform System File Checker sfc /scannow
- Scan your computer for viruses
- Access File Explorer Options to set open File Explorer with This PC instead of Quick Access, etc.
All such solutions are already covered by us in this post above.
Read next: File Explorer not starting automatically in Windows.
