3 Ways to Fix File Explorer Tabs Not Showing in Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Try Basic Fixes

Fix 1: Clear File Explorer History

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

Step 1:Click the search icon on the taskbar, type infile explorer options, and pressEnter.

Step 2:In theGeneraltab, click theClearbutton next to Clear File Explorer History.

Fix 2: Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

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

Step 1:Press theWindows + Skeys to open the search menu, type incontrol paneland pressEnter.

Step 2:In the Control Panel window, use the drop-down menu at the top-right corner to selectLarge icons. Then, selectTroubleshooting.

Step 3: Under the System and Security section, select theRun maintenance tasksoption.

Step 4:ClickNextand follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter. After that, check if the issue is still there.

Fix 3: Check for Corrupt System Files

Another reason File Explorer might 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. Here’s how to run them.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.

Step 2:In the console, type the following command and pressEnter.

After the scan is complete, you’ll see a message indicating whether or not it found any errors. You’ll also get instructions to fix the error if there is a problem.

Next, run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan by typing the following commands, and pressingEnterafter each of them:

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

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Last updated on 09 August, 2024

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