Can't open folder location via windows search and "open file location"  


  1. Posts : 134
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can't open folder location via windows search and "open file location"


    If I search for a folder such as "Pictures" and then try to open it with the "open file location" button, it won't open. I can still use the "open file location" button for normal files and it'll open the file location, but not folders. Is there a registry entry for this behavior I can edit/merge a backup .reg file for? (Or any other solution. Already tried reinstalling cortana/search)

    This is happening on two different PCs I have with versions:
    1909 (OS Build 18363.1139)
    1903 (OS Build 18362.959)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can't open folder location via windows search and "open file location"-untitled.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 39,308
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, the 'Pictures' folder is conventionally not under C:\Users\
    - but under C:\Users\<your user folder-name>\

    I suggest you inspect C:\Users\ with file explorer and examine that.
    If there is no Pictures folder there, that's why it won't open.
    It would then follow that you should ask why the search index hasn't been updated.

    If there is such a folder there, you need to ask what you may have done that led to one being there.

    Could this perhaps be relevant to you?
    Undo: Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 134
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Hi, the 'Pictures' folder is conventionally not under C:\Users\
    - but under C:\Users\<your user folder-name>\

    I suggest you inspect C:\Users\ with file explorer and examine that.
    If there is no Pictures folder there, that's why it won't open.
    It would then follow that you should ask why the search index hasn't been updated.

    If there is such a folder there, you need to ask what you may have done that led to one being there.

    Could this perhaps be relevant to you?
    Undo: Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder
    Yeah I just cropped out the name, sorry if that's not clear.
    Original question still stands though

    Also it applies to any folder, not just the Pictures folder. All folders do not work, all files work. Weird bug
    Last edited by yesir360; 10 Apr 2021 at 13:19.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 39,308
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Thank you for clarifying what the question actually is.

    I find the same- same build.
    If you notice, 'Open file location' mentions file, not folder.
    'Open' works
    'Open file location' doesn't.

    My guess is that 'Open file location' simply shouldn't be there.

    In later builds MS has changed this area, so that perhaps may have been fixed.

    Even if at the top of that window, under More, you select Folders, it's still offered- which makes no sense.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 134
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    dalchina said:
    Thank you for clarifying what the question actually is.

    I find the same- same build.
    If you notice, 'Open file location' mentions file, not folder.
    'Open' works
    'Open file location' doesn't.

    My guess is that 'Open file location' simply shouldn't be there.

    In later builds MS has changed this area, so that perhaps may have been fixed.

    Even if at the top of that window, under More, you select Folders, it's still offered- which makes no sense.
    So to confirm, you're saying that you tried the same builds and "Open file location" also doesn't work?

    I had a third PC on 2004 (OS build 19041.867) that has this fixed/working. Could you try that version if possible?

    In the meantime, I think clicking the link at the top that says "C:\Users\<user>" will open the folder it's in, though not highlighting it like my third PC does.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 39,308
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    I only use 1903 for personal reasons. As I said, thru 1909 and 2004 there were many changes to the way search worked.

    Clearly 'Open file location' for a folder is a logical nonsense. Is that what it still says in 2004?

    If I hover over the path, it darkens a little - a sort of highlight- indicating it's clickable, which it is and it opens the containing folder.
    Similarly if I hover over Pictures and click that- it opens the Pictures folder.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 134
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    dalchina said:
    I only use 1903 for personal reasons. As I said, thru 1909 and 2004 there were many changes to the way search worked.

    Clearly 'Open file location' for a folder is a logical nonsense. Is that what it still says in 2004?

    If I hover over the path, it darkens a little - a sort of highlight- indicating it's clickable, which it is and it opens the containing folder.
    Similarly if I hover over Pictures and click that- it opens the Pictures folder.
    Ah I see. If your 1903 version also has this "broken" option then I guess it's just a bug that never got patched in 1903/1909. My intention was getting it to open the containing folder and I suppose I'll use the highlight-able link for that.

    I'm not exactly sure what it says in 2004 version since it's in a language I'm not too familiar with, but the option it gives does open the containing folder like it's supposed to.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 13,136
    Win10 Version 21H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #8

    I also can do a Search for a particular file in a folder such as Documents with *.doc then I get this list on the right-click of a file found, the choice is at the bottom of the list:
    Can't open folder location via windows search and &quot;open file location&quot;-image.png
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 134
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Berton said:
    I also can do a Search for a particular file in a folder such as Documents with *.doc then I get this list on the right-click of a file found, the choice is at the bottom of the list:
    Can't open folder location via windows search and &quot;open file location&quot;-image.png
    Oh yeah, searching in the file explorer itself seems to not have an issue. Opening file location via that works fine (and it's shown as "open folder location" if it's a folder).

    Did a bit of searching and from this thread here: Open file location | Windows 10 Forums
    Seems like it's based on a CID of {37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}. Not like that would help too much.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 39,308
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    This is more a question of the inappropriateness of the design of the GUI here.

    I don't believe that looking at how Open With as a context menu in file explorer will help with this dialogue.
      My Computers


 

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