Tabs in File Explorer was a welcome feature recently added in the Windows 11 22H2 update. However, some users have reported that tabs don’t work in the File Explorer window, preventing them from using this new feature. This post will walk you through how you can fix Windows File Explorer tab display issue.
Fixed: Windows File Explorer tabs not showing
By following the steps in this guide, users can enable the tabbed browsing feature in File Explorer and enjoy seamless management of their files and folders.
- Restart your computer
- Make sure Windows Update is installed
- Restart File Explorer Services.
- Clear explorer cache
- Enable Tabs with ViveTool
This update includes many new features and improvements to the operating system, such as opening multiple tabs in File Explorer, making it easier to view and manage folders. Users can now switch between folders without having to launch countless instances of File Explorer, which improves productivity and makes them much more efficient.
1] Restart your computer
Restarting your computer is a basic troubleshooting procedure that can often resolve various issues, including those related to Windows 11 File Explorer.
When you restart your computer, it closes all open applications and processes and restarts them when you turn it back on. This can help you fix any software conflicts or temporary issues that may be blocking the display of File Explorer tabs.
2] Make sure Windows Update is installed
Before you start thinking this feature isn’t enabled on your PC, we recommend that you make sure you’re running Windows 11 Update 22H2 or later. To find out which version of Windows you have, go to Settings > System > About, scroll down and find “Version”under “Windows Specifications”.
You can also check for updates on your Windows computer manually:
- Press the Win + I keys on your keyboard to launch the settings.
- Then go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for Updates.
- Click the Download and Install button if Windows tells you that version 22H2 is available.
After installing the update, restart your computer to check if the tab features are now available.
3] Restart File Explorer Services.
Restarting File Explorer closes the app and restarts it, which can help resolve any temporary issues that prevent tabs from showing up. Restarting File Explorer can also help clear its cache, which can sometimes get corrupted and cause app performance issues.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Now also make sure the Windows Explorer window is open.
- Then find Windows Explorer in the Processes section of the Task Manager, right-click and select Restart.
- Don’t worry if your computer is down for a few seconds.
Once this is done, open Windows Explorer and check if you have the requested feature.
4] Clear explorer cache
When solving the problem where tabs are not displayed in Windows Explorer, it is recommended to clear the Explorer cache. The cache is a temporary storage location for frequently accessed data that can become corrupted from time to time, causing Explorer performance issues.
Clearing the cache can help resolve these issues by removing any corrupted data and freeing up any resources that may be in use by the application.
- Open a new instance of Windows Explorer and look for the three-dot icon in the top navigation bar.
- Click on the three-dot icon and select “Options”from the drop-down list.
- In the new Options pop-up window, select the Clear option next to Clear File Explorer History and click OK.
5] Enable Tabs with ViveTool in Windows 11
Finally, if you have updated to the latest version of Windows and this feature is still not available, you can force enable it in Windows 11 by running a third party script. Click this link to learn how to use ViveTool in Windows 11 to force tabs to appear in File Explorer.
Conclusion
Ultimately, tabs not showing up in Windows Explorer can be a nuisance for users who rely on this feature to organize and access their files and folders. However, by following the steps in this guide, users can resolve this issue and restore tabs in File Explorer. These steps include restarting your computer, checking for updates, restarting File Explorer, clearing File Explorer’s cache, and using a third-party tool like ViveTool to enable tabs in File Explorer.