You can try unpinning it then opening File Explorer and pinning it again. There's technically nothing you can do about something like that besides unpinning, etc to affect it and see if that helps.

 

Its a UI issue or upgrade issue. But, always possible that File Explorer's registry stuff got messed up and a clean Windows installation or further update attempts will fix it. There's a lot of stuff there that can cause odd issues like that.

That's a pretty serious UI issue.

 

I tried unpinning and pinning it back. Last week I also tried removing all File Explorer shortcuts from the registry and adding them again. No luck in either case.

Hi V. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

Right click Explorer icon on task bar, Unpin from TaskBar.

Then type Explorer in Search, right click File Explorer to Pin to TaskBar.

See if that works better. If not then are there other problems with Task Bar or Explorer?

Hi, unfortunately that didn't work. As far as I can tell there are no other problems with the task bar.

Try these fixes for File Explorer in Windows 11:

1) If this was cased by Feature Update 22H2, you can roll it back for 10 days in Settings > System > Recovery or from the WinRE Repair Mode or bootable media using the Uninstall Updates button:
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/boot-to-advanced-...

2) Right click Start button to open Task Manager, show More Details, then choose Processes tab, scroll down to Windows Processes, then further down almost to the bottom to Windows Explorer. Right click to Restart Explorer, then Restart PC.

3) Then try all of these fixes for File Explorer not working in Windows 11:

https://windows101tricks.com/file-explorer-not-...

https://www.guidingtech.com/top-ways-to-fix-fil...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/fix...

https://www.minitool.com/news/file-explorer-not...

https://allthings.how/how-to-fix-it-when-window...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWeHhdM9E0

4) Update your drivers from the PC maker's Support Downloads webpage for your exact model. While there check for the latest Chipset, BIOS, Sound, Network, USB3, Bluetooth and all other drivers to compare with the version/date installled for that device in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

5) Expedite install of all Windows Updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates, including needed restarts, then go back to check again until no more are offered.

Then go into Microsoft Store app > My Library > Get Updates and expedite all Store app Updates, too, until no more are offered.

6) Run a full Windows 11 Disk Check: https://allthings.how/how-to-run-chkdsk-in-wind...

7) Establish a Clean Boot to turn off Startup Freeloaders that can conflict and cause issues:
https://www.makeuseof.com/clean-boot-windows-11/

8) Download, install and run a full scan with free Malwarebyes from https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/ after enabling Root Kit scan in Scan Settings. Clean Up anything it finds and then run again. Turn off Real Time trial in Control panel to keep as on-demand scanner.

9) Run System File Checker/DISM in WIndows 11:
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/use-system-file-c...

10) If that doesn't fix it then you can do a Windows 11 Repair Upgrade which reinstalls Windows while saving your files and apps in place, brings it up to the latest version by the most stable method, takes about an hour and resolves most problems: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/repair-install-wi...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

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I reinstalled Windows while keeping files and apps, and the problem still persists. I feel that only a clean install would solve it which I'm not really ready to go through as I have a lot of projects going on.

I understand. Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

 

I installed the 22H2 update on 22nd September 2022 and my File Explorer in the Task Bar stopped working correctly.

 

When I right-click the File Explorer icon, a list opens that shows pinned and recent items. None of them work anymore with a left-click, except the This PC shortcut. Nothing happens upon clicking them. The whole list just disappears. They only open if I right-click on them and click Open, which is tedious.

My last try works with the following steps:
- Unpin it from taskbar and open it again from search

- Right click it on taskbar, then right click file explorer and click properties

- Change icon to whichever icon you want.

- Pin it again to taskbar

Hope it works for you!