HELP File Explorer unresponsive after Windows update

Over the past several months every time my desktop computer updates Windows 11 the file explorer stops working and does not respondthough it does list all folders. Usually I could restore functionality by uninstalling the updatebut this past week the last one (KB5065426) (26100.6584) caused the same problem and I am now locked out of all my files and folders! I also discovered that I am unable to download anything from the internet.

My computer is a Dell Inspiron 3891running Windows 11 Home x64 10.0.24100 Build 26100.

I have tried ALL the suggested fixes I could find and NOTHING works.

1. I have restarted Explorercleared its cacherestored defaults.
2. I have uninstalled Microsoft OneDriveGoogle Driveand DropBox.
3. I have rebuilt the Index.
4. I have stopped all services except Windows.
5. I ran a repair re-install Windows 11version 24H2 (repair version).
6. I have run various CMD codes with no effect.

File explorer opens to the Quick Access list but clicking individual folders or libraries does nothing. I can right click on the library icons and can check Properties which shows folder details but I can not see or open any folder. Oddly my image files are visible on the Gallery icon beneath Homebut the Pictures folder does not open. Until I re-installed Windowsthe images were from recent datesbut now they are missing and it start at 2022.

What is more frustrating is that today when attempting to download an alternate file programit failed to download. Even downloading an image file failed. I can not save a file in any program.

Since nothing has fixed itI am posting this request for help.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum. I suspect this to be an account problem rather than a windows problem but we have to prove it.
You say you uninstalled onedrive. If you use a MS accountyou CAN NOT arbitrarily uninstall onedrive without taking the necessary steps that must be done BEFORE onedrive can be installed. I suspect you may not have done those steps.. Testing with another account will prove whether my suspicion is right. It will also prove whether or not windows update has any bearing on the issue.

1. The first thing I would ask is do you run any third party app that alters the GUI? If soif you are able touninstall it.

2. Can you do anything in Windows (open appsor go to to settings)> If you are able to create a new user accountcreate a new LOCAL account. Make it an administrator. Restart and login to the new account. Create a test file using notepad in your documents folder. Does file explorer work as expected in the new account? If it doesit's not a windows problem but a user account problem.

3. If the same problem exists in the new accountuninstall the update. Login to you old account. If you can't get to Windows Update section to uninstall ituse recovery. Restart computer and immediately hold down shift key. Keep it held throughout boot until the Recovery Screen appears Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updatesand finally choose the type of update to remove. KB5065426 is a quality update

Report back what you find for further instructions.

Thank you for your quick responseglasskuter. I've been unable to sleep tonight because of this problem and have just tried your suggestion to create another account.

I'm not sure I understand your first question. Besides the usual text/internet stuff I only use programs for photo/image processing and music notation. I don't have any games installed and all my programs have worked fine until now.

All the Windows settings and other system programs seem to work okayso I set up a local test account without a Microsoft sign-in but with administrator privileges. Restarted and logged in as the test and was pleased that everything seems to work properly. I created/saved a text filedownloaded an image fileand created a couple of folders on File Explorer. I also downloaded a an alternative file utility programTotal Commanderto see if it would work on both accounts.

I've just logged out of the test account and returned to my account. File Explorer is still unresponsiveBut Total Commander does workthough I don't know how to use it yet. I'm concerned that it only found a few of my documents folders. However my Document Properties in File Explorer shows the true number which is very largeI think93,200 Files5,167 Folders = 368 GB.

So this problem is connected to a corrupt user profile/account and not Windows. This File Explorer problem happened before I uninstalled OneDrive. It didn't argue with me too much about being uninstalledso I thought I did it correctly. I removed it along with Google Drive and Drop Box since these apps seem to live in another dimension on my computer.

So what should I do now?

Hi @mkbrbkr ,

I feel for you as you lost some sleep over this.

More bad news (it will get betterbear with me)
A corrupted profile whose content almost entirely resides in the HKCU hive of the registry is not repairable.
It will get worse with time as errors multiply.
Without a pre-corruption backup or even a vague idea when the problem started adds to the complexity.
What we know is the cause of such a corruption is often caused by interrupted updatesuntimely shutdownspower outagesetc.
This results in incomplete entries to the registry leading to a corrupted profile.
After allthe registry is no different than a databaseand a corrupted DB is no fun either.

The good news is that the new profile you created seems to work perfectly.
All you have to do is re-install your programs and apps to that new profile.
It will take time but in the endyou will have a fully functional system.

Have you tried clearing Explorer history using the batch file at the link below?

OAT said:

I really do not recommend using this or any other tools as the profile is already proven to be corrupted.
Let's salvage while we can.

Click to expand...

The "corruption" may be something simple. Old linksespecially ones that point to network or cloud storageare known to hang Explorer. It's worth a try. There's no risk. The OP already has another local account with administrator rights that can be used to login in and move data.

Thankseveryone for your help and suggestions. It never occurred to me that my account was the source of my File Explorer problembut it is clear now that it was corrupted. Probably due to the confusion of updates being installed and uninstalled too many times.

This morning I established a new account on my computer and found that all my files were still safe and listed under D: DATA in the new account's explorer. This allowed me to copy/backup all my data onto a new SSD drive (2 TB) which I purchased today. (I used FastCopy and it was very fast.)This was a BIG relief for me as rescuing data is probably the prime motivation for anyone using a forum like this Thanks again.

I will now try LesFerch's suggestion for clearing Explorer history without worry over losing any data. Yesterday I did try running a similar batch file but it was slightly different and didn't produce the effects described. My first PC ran DOS so the system prompt is familiar.

If that fails I will migrate my corrupt account to the new account. I've found articles about how to do that on Elevenforum but I'd appreciate any suggestions on what to avoid or how to make it easier. I believe that years ago I had two similar Jekyll/Hyde accounts on Win 98. What should I do about the corrupt account? Can I remove it after transferring my Microsoft account?