According to the preview of Windows 11 – the new Microsoft operating system, a series of new features and changes will be included in the new OS. For instance, the appearance of File Explorer will be changed greatly. However, some people said they find the new File Explorer is missing in Windows 11. Luckily, there are several ways to work things out.

The upcoming Windows 11 operating system (OS) was leaked out online before its official release. People can finally take a look at the new user interface, Start menu, File Explorer, and a lot more. The main functions of the new File Explorer in Windows 11 are the same as that of the old File Explorer in Windows 10, but the appearance of it changed a lot: the traditional ribbon toolbar is lost; a set of new icons are introduced; the locations of some functions are changed; etc.

What’s Changed Most In Microsoft Windows 11 – The New System?

However, some users said they still get the old File Explorer after installing Windows 11 OS. In the following content, I’ll mainly focus on fixing the new File Explorer missing in Windows 11. Besides, a modern file explorer for Windows is worth trying. It is the Files app. See how to download Files App.

Tip: You’d better back up your system or at least the important files before updating to Windows 11. Why? Improper actions and unknown system bugs can pose threat to your precious data. Please choose the correct MiniTool software to use when necessary.

MiniTool backup software:

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MiniTool recovery software:

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5 Ways to Get New File Explorer Windows 11

There is a great chance that you don’t get the new appearance of the File Explorer when running Windows 11. You open File Explorer, but find it appears with its classic, Windows 10-like interface including the ribbon toolbar. How to fix the new File Explorer missing in Windows 11 issue?

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Way 1: Restart Your PC

If your computer runs into trouble, the first way to try should be restarting; it’s a simple solution to fixing many common issues appeared suddenly on a PC.

How to restart your computer?

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Way 2: Change Folder Options

  1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E on the keyboard.
  2. Select File from the menu bar -> click Change folder and search options.
  3. You can also access the Folder Options window by selecting View and clicking on the Options icon.
  4. Shift to the View tab at the top of the Folder Option window.
  5. Locate the Advanced settings section and browse the options there.
  6. Find the Launch folder windows in a separate process option and uncheck it.
  7. Click on the Apply button and then OK button to close the window.
  8. Restart your Windows 11 computer.

11 Ways To Open Windows Explorer On Windows 10.

Change Folder Options

Way 3: Restart the Windows Explorer

Open File Explorer, close it, and restart it manually. Also, you can open Task Manager to restart Windows Explorer.

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the security screen.
  2. Select Task Manager from the list to open it.
  3. Browse the running processes and look for Windows Explorer.
  4. Right click on it and select Restart from the context menu.
  5. Wait for the operation to finish.

How to troubleshoot Windows Explorer needs to be restarted error?

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Way 4: Modify the Registry

  1. Open Run by pressing Windows + R.
  2. Type regedit into the text box.
  3. Click OK or press Enter to open Registry Editor.
  4. Go to this path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  5. Look for the SeparateProcess entry in the right pane. If you can’t find one, you can right click on the blank space -> navigate to New -> select DWORD (32-bit) Value -> name it as SeparateProcess.
  6. Double click on the value to open it and set the value data to 0.
  7. Click OK to confirm.

Open Registry Editor

Way 5: Update Graphics Driver

You should update your graphics card driver to the latest version:

  1. Go to the manufacturer’s official website.
  2. Search for the latest driver version for your graphics card.
  3. Download and install the driver properly.
  4. Restart your computer to make the changes take effect.

What else to try if above methods failed?

You may need to find all the Link Shell Extension applications on your PC and uninstall them or just wait for Microsoft to fix the issue for you in its newer builds.

When you get the new File Explorer back, you can enable tabs in File Exploer on Windows 11 for converience.

Windows 11 File Explorer Is Slow, How To Fix It?

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About The Author

Sarah

Position: Columnist

Sarah has been working as an editor at MiniTool since she graduated from university. Sarah aims at helping users with their computer problems such as disk errors and data loss. She feels a sense of accomplishment to see that users get their issues fixed relying on her articles. Besides, she likes to make friends and listen to music after work.