How to Open File Explorer in Windows 10

To open File Explorer in Windows 10, press Windows + E, or select the folder icon on the taskbar. It opens to Quick access, which shows your frequent folders and recent files.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 27, 2026.

Ways to open File Explorer

• Keyboard: press Windows + E.
• Taskbar: select the folder icon.
• Start menu: select Start and look under Windows System > File Explorer, or type file explorer and open it.
• Start button menu: right-click Start and select File Explorer.
• Run box: press Windows + R, type explorer, and select OK.

If the folder icon isn’t on the taskbar, open File Explorer, right-click its taskbar icon, and select Pin to taskbar.

Make it open to This PC

1. In File Explorer, select View > Options.
2. Next to Open File Explorer to, choose This PC. Using Windows 11? The same setting is part of getting a Windows 10-style File Explorer in Windows 11.
3. Select OK.

This PC shows your drives, such as C:, and your main folders.

If File Explorer won’t open

• Restart your PC.
• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select Windows Explorer, and select Restart.
• Check for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Open a folder in its own window

• Ctrl + N opens a second File Explorer window showing the same folder.
• Right-click a folder and select Open in new window to see it next to the current one.
• To jump straight to a folder from anywhere, press Windows + R, type its path (such as C:\Users) or a shortcut like shell:downloads, and press Enter.

Make a shortcut to one folder

Right-click the desktop, select New > Shortcut, and type explorer.exe followed by a space and the folder’s path, for example explorer.exe D:\Projects. Select Next, name it, and select Finish. Right-click the shortcut and choose Pin to taskbar if you want it one click away.

If File Explorer is slow or keeps crashing

• It says “Working on it…” for a long time. Quick access can be slow to load. Set File Explorer to open to This PC as described above, and select Clear under Privacy in Folder Options.
• It crashes when you right-click. A recently installed program may have added a broken menu item. Uninstall programs you added around the time it started, such as archive tools or cloud storage apps.
• It crashes in one folder. A damaged file, often a video or picture, may be causing it. Turn off previews with View > Preview pane, and switch the folder to Details view.
• It still won’t work. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow, then restart.

Frequently asked questions

Where are my downloaded files?

In the Downloads folder. See how to find downloads on Windows 10.

How do I see file types like .jpg or .pdf?

Turn on file name extensions. See how to show file extensions in Windows 10.

How do I see hidden files?

See how to hide and show hidden files and folders in Windows 10.

Is File Explorer the same as Windows Explorer?

Yes. Windows 7 and earlier called it Windows Explorer. Microsoft renamed it File Explorer in Windows 8, and Task Manager still lists it as Windows Explorer.

How do I show the preview pane?

Select the View tab and choose Preview pane, or press Alt + P. Select a file to see its contents on the right without opening it.

Can I open File Explorer as administrator?

Not in the usual way. When a folder needs administrator rights, File Explorer asks for permission and handles it for that action.

To clear the list of recent files, see how to clear recent files in Windows 10.

To sync the files in your OneDrive folder, see how to use and sync OneDrive on Windows 10.

To save or print the names of the files in a folder, see how to print a list of files in a folder in Windows 10.

On Windows 11, see how to change Quick access settings in Windows 11.

Microsoft’s guides are File Explorer in Windows and Fix File Explorer if it won’t open or start. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.