File explorer opens with only the tabs win11 Pro 25H2

Erik Istrup 20 Reputation points
2026-06-19T13:56:17.5166667+00:00

After starting up windows, file explorer works fine. At some point, if I open another instance (or open a folder in a new window), a window opens without the folder tree and the folder list, just the tabs.

It works again for a short time if I restart explorer.exe in taskmanager.

If a window opens fine, it never goes blank.

If I make a shortcut and opens file explorer in a specific folder, it never opens blank.

Thanks in advance,
Erik Istrup

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Desktop
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Answer accepted by question author
TaoLi 113.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-06-19T16:41:27.5533333+00:00

Hello,

This issue may be caused by corrupted system files. Please search for "CMD" in the search box, right-click it, and select "Run as administrator." Then, enter the following commands to repair system components:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Checkhealth

This command checks the health status of the operating system.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

This command performs a detailed scan to detect the current health status of the system.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

This command attempts to repair corrupted system files using the Windows Update server or local sources to ensure system stability.

sfc /scannow

This command scans for and repairs potentially corrupted or missing system files, ensuring the integrity of system files.

After entering these commands, please restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

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