13 Fixes For File Explorer Not Showing Files Issue in Windows
File Explorer is the default File Manager app in Windows OS and works great most of the time. However, many users face a predicament in the app where File Explorer doesn’t show files. Other issues include a forever-loading screen or missing icons. Misconfigured File Explorer settings, glitched system services, and corrupt system files are the main reasons behind this issue. Here’s how you can fix File Explorer not displaying files on Windows.
Table of Contents
1. Check File Explorer Properties
Firstly, check the File Explorer properties to check the View settings. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindows key + Eto open the File Explorer.
2.Click on thethree dotsbutton.
3.Click onOptions.
4.Switch to theViewtab. Select theShow hidden files, folders, and drivesoption.
5.Click on theApplybutton and then click on theOKbutton.
6. Closethe Properties window.
2. Restart Windows Explorer
If the Windows Explorer process glitches, it can break many elements of theFile Explorerand other dependent apps. So, you must restart the Windows Explorer process using Task Manager. Here’s how:
1.Press theCtrl + Shift + Esckeys to open the Task Manager.
2.Right-click on theWindows Explorerprocess. Select theRestartoption.
3. Closethe Task Manager.
3. Tweak Windows Search Service
File Explorer uses the Windows Search service for content indexing and search functionality. If this service isn’t working properly, you will face issues with File Explorer. Here’s how to restart the service:
1.Press theWindowskey, typeservices, and pressEnter.
2.Locate theWindows Searchservice and right-click on it. Select theRestartoption.
3. Closethe Services window.
4. Clear Thumbnail Cache
An outdated or corrupt thumbnail cache can causeissues with File Explorer. You can easily purge this cache using the Disk Cleanup tool. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindowskey, typecleanmgr, and click on theRun as administratoroption.
2.Click on theOKbutton.
3.Select theThumbnailscheckbox and click on theOKbutton.
4.Click on theDelete Filesbutton.
5. Clear File Explorer History
Try clearing the File Explorer History to delete the cached entries and force it to recreate everything. Here’s how:
4.Find theClear File Explorer Historyoption. Click on theClearbutton.
6. Change Search Options
If File Explorer cannot find certain types of files on your PC, you can modify the search options in File Explorer. Here’s how:
4.Switch to theFolderstab.
5.Select theAlways search file names and contentscheck box to select it. Then click on theApplybutton and click on theOKbutton.
7. Rebuild the Search Index
Rebuilding the search index will force the PC to re-index all the files, thereby removing the corrupted entries from the database. Here’s how to do it:
1.Press theWindows key + Rto open theRun dialog box. Typecontrol /name Microsoft.IndexingOptionsand pressEnter.
2.Click on theAdvancedbutton.
3.Now, click on theRebuildbutton.
4.Click on theOKbutton.
It will take a while to rebuild the index.
8. Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
You must run the Search and indexing troubleshooter to identify issues with file search and fix them automatically. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindows key + Rto open theRun dialog box.
2.Typemsdt -ep WindowsHelp id SearchDiagnosticin the text box. Then press theCtrl + Shift +Enterkeys at once.
3.Click on theNextbutton.
4.Wait for the troubleshooter to identify and fix issues. After that, close the troubleshooter window.
9. Update Windows
An outdated build of Windows OS can contain bugs that will be left unattended. So, you must regularly update your PC and install the latest available updates. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindowskey, typeUpdatewindows, and pressEnter.
2.The utility will automatically search for the latest available update. Click on theDownload and installbutton.
- Restartyour PC to apply the update if prompted.
10. Reset All System Apps
you may try resetting all the system apps to fix this bothersome File Explorer issue. Here’s how to do it usingPowerShell.
1.Open PowerShell with administrator privileges.
2.Type the following command and pressEnterto execute it:
3. Closethe PowerShell window.
11. Run an SFC and DISM Scan
You can use the inbuilt DISM and SFC tools to fix the component store of Windows image and identify and fix corrupt system files. Run both scans one after another:
1.Press theWindowskey, typecmd, and pressCtrl + Shift + Enterkeys at once.
2.The User Account Control window will open. Click on theYesbutton.
3.Type the following command and pressEnter:
4.After that, execute the following command:
5.Wait for the scans to complete and restart your PC.
12. Use System Restore
System Restore can work wonders when every other troubleshooting method fails. If one or more restore points exist, it can revert your PC to a point in time when everything worked as intended. Here’s how:
1.Press theWindowskey, typerstrui, and pressEnter.
2.Click on theNextbutton. Pick a restore point and apply it on your PC.
Your PC will restart during this process.
13. Perform an In-Place Upgrade
The last solution is an in-place upgrade which will help you reinstall Windows OS without losing your personal data and apps. It is much better than asystem resetwhich doesn’t preserve your installed apps. Here’s how to do it:
1.Download theWindows ISOfile.
2.Mount the downloaded ISO file by double-clicking on it. Open the mounted ISO file and click on thesetup.exefile.
3.The User Account Control window will pop up. Click on theYesbutton.
4.Click on theNextbutton.
5.Now, click on theAcceptbutton to agree to the EULA.
6.Select theKeep personal files and appsoption. Then, click on theNextbutton.
7.Follow the on-screen instructions and reinstall the Windows OS without losing your files.
Fix File Explorer Issues
These were the methods to resolve the File Explorer not showing files issue on Windows OS. Start by changing the File Explorer properties, restarting Windows Explorer, and clearing out the thumbnail cache. After that, change search options, rebuild the search index, and use the troubleshooter to fix the issue. Lastly, use an in-place upgrade to reinstall Windows without losing your files.
Abhishek Mishra
Abhishek likes to tinker with operating systems and is always hunting for apps that can improve his Windows and Android experience. He devotes his spare time to keeping track of the latest developments in anime and cinema. But he occasionally goes for short rides if the weather is forgiving enough.
