File Explorer in Windows 10 Not Opening Folders

I'm struggling with the same issue, but only with folders not contained in the OS drive (secondary and external drives). I'm almost sure that Microsoft is the one to blame. Let me know if you find any solution.

Please disconnect all connected devices to find out problem resolves if it does not perform a clean boot state.


I would like to have you run a Clean Boot.

How to perform a Clean Boot.

Warning: Disabling items in Services or Startup may leave your antivirus disabled until the process is ended. For this reason I would suggest that you perform this process off line.

Press the keys to open Run, then type msconfig in the search box. This will open System Configuration.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, you should enter the password or provide confirmation.

(1) Click/tap on the General tab.

(2) Click/tap on the Selective startup option.

(3) Remove the check mark in the Load startup items check box.



4. Click on the Services tab.

5. Place a check mark in the Hide all Microsoft services check box, this will remove the Microsoft Services from the list but will still be running.

6. Click Disable all, this will remove all of the check marks in the Services list.



7. Click on Apply then OK



Click on Restart in the window that opens.

When the computer is restarted it will boot normally.

If the problem does not continue after the restart please do the following.

8. Divide the number of these services and startup programs by two and you place checks in the first half of these, then restart the computer.

9. If the problem doesn't return in those services and startup programs remove the checks and place checks in the remaining services and startup programs and restart the computer.

10. When you find which half the service and startup programs is in go on to the next step.

11. The half which has the service and startup programs causing this problem remove half of the checks as you did previously to see which half has this service. Restart the computer.

12. If it isn't in the first half of these services and startup programs, do the same with the last half of the services and startup programs.

13. Once you have narrowed it down to the last three or four services and startup programs remove the checks one at a time till you find the service or startup program at fault.

Once you have found the service or startup program post it in your topic. Do not take any action until I suggest the next step.

I tried the solution posted just in case I had forgotten anything, but it didn't work either. I'm having issues mainly with a 5400 rpm hdd, no problems whatsoever with ssd and 7200 rpm hdd. It's really weird cause the disk is almost new and any test I've performed on it has not thrown bad sectors or mechanical issues.

Try setting folder template to "General Items" for all folders, subfolders and libraries. Reboot to test.

Change Folder Template in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

Explorer++ is working a tad better but the shell extensions are exactly the same as in the regular explorer.

Framani said:

Explorer++ is working a tad better but the shell extensions are exactly the same as in the regular explorer.

Do you mean the right click context menu is showing exactly the same options in Explorer vs Explorer++ ?

If so what is shown exactly.

Grab autoruns:

Autoruns for Windows - Windows Sysinternals | Microsoft Docs

Extract files then Right click and run as admin.

autoruns.exe is for 32bit windows
autoruns64.exe is for 64bit windows
Wait for scan to complete.

Post a screenshot of Explorer tab please. Also try the folder template tweak.

Grab a copy of UVK.

https://www.carifred.com/uvk/

Use "Scan And Create Log" button with the following settings. Upload the results.