Windows 10: Lost the ability to open tabs in Win11 file explorer

I suddenly can't open tabs anymore with CTRL-T in explorer.The extended context menu also no longer shows "Open in new tab", only "Open in new window".If I create a new user, it works fine in the new profile.However, I have spent a lot work with my existing profile, and don't want to start from scratch.How can I fix it in my existing profile ?

:)

 

Win 11 File Explorer tabs not opening

Hello. I'm Douglas, here to help you with this.

For this situation, I recommend that you test the steps in the order they are listed below:

1. Install Windows Updates

File Explorer tabs are only available on computers running Windows 11 22H2 or later. So your first step is to determine which version of Windows your computer is running. If your system is running an older version, use the following steps to update to the latest version.

Step 1: Click the Windows button on the taskbar to open the Start menu and click the gear icon to launch the Settings app.

Step 2: Click on the Windows Update option on the left sidebar and click on the Check for Updates button on the top right corner.

After updating Windows to the latest version, File Explorer tabs will appear.

2. Restart the Windows Explorer process

Windows Explorer is a system process that manages the graphical user interface (GUI) for File Explorer. If this process is not running correctly, File Explorer may not display the tabs on your computer. Most of the time, you can fix problems with the Windows Explorer process simply by restarting it. Here are the steps for the same.

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open Task Manager.

Step 2: On the Processes tab, find the Windows Explorer process. Right-click and select Restart.

Your taskbar will disappear for a few seconds and reappear. After that, open File Explorer on your PC and check if you can access the tabs.

3. Clear File Explorer history

Windows File Explorer keeps a record of your previous activities and searches to better serve you. If Windows is having trouble accessing this data for some reason, File Explorer may malfunction. You can try clearing the existing File Explorer history and see if that helps.

Step 1: Click the Windows Search icon on the taskbar, type file explorer options and press Enter.

Step 2: On the General tab, click on the Clear button next to Clear File Explorer History.

4. Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

Your Windows computer runs the System Maintenance Troubleshooter regularly to clean up unused files, desktop shortcuts, and perform other maintenance tasks. This tool can help fix any irregularities with File Explorer and restore missing tabs. See how to run it.

Step 1: Press Windows keys + S to open Windows Search, type control panel and press Enter.

Step 2: In the Control Panel window, use the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner to select Large Icons. Then click on the Troubleshooting menu in the list of icons.

Step 3: In the System and Security section, select the Perform maintenance tasks option.

Step 4: Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter. After that, check if the problem persists.

5. Check for corrupted system files

Another reason File Explorer may not show tabs is if some of the system files on your PC are corrupt or missing. SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) are two Windows tools that can help detect and repair any damaged system files. See how to run them.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon to open the Power User menu and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.

Step 2: Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 3: In the console, type the following command and press Enter.

SFC/scannow

After the scan completes, you will see a message indicating whether or not you found any errors. You will also receive instructions for correcting the error if there is a problem.

Then run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan by typing the following commands and pressing Enter after each one:

DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/CheckHealth

DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/ScanHealth

DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth

Note that DISM can connect to Windows servers to download system files if needed. So make sure you have an active internet connection.

Restart your PC after the scan completes and check if File Explorer shows tabs.

I hope this information helps you, post the results again, I'm available.

Thanks.

 

Is there a way to make File Explorer open with the view tab as default

When I open Win10's File Explorer, the default tab is always set to the "Home" tab. Is there a way to set the "View" tab as the default tab? Reason I want File Explorer to open with the "View" tab active is that I want to be able to select "List" view or "Detail" view without having to first click the "View" tab. Thanks,

 

File explorer will not open on windows 10

In this case, it's possible that the File Explorer is set to open an incorrect/corrupted file location. To rule out folder path related issues, we suggest that you follow the steps below:

• Type Control Panel in the search box. From the search result, click
  Control Panel.
• Select Small icons from the View by: drop-down list located on the top right side of the window.
• Select File Explorer Options.
• Under the General tab, select This
  PC from the Open File Explorer to: drop-down list.
• Click OK.

Once you're done, open File Explorer again and check if the issue persists.

Feel free to post back if you encounter any challenges along the process.