Can't see my files and directories in Azure Storage Explorer

Frelsöy, Tobias 20 Reputation points
2026-06-22T05:42:29.6833333+00:00

Hi,

I worked with a lot of files and directory in Storage Explorer last week, And now when I logged in I do not see them. I know they exist because I have integrate them with another system. Can someone guide me? I new on Azure.

Azure Storage Explorer
Azure Storage Explorer

An Azure tool that is used to manage cloud storage resources on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Answer accepted by question author
Thanmayi Godithi 11,905 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-06-22T13:11:13.6566667+00:00

Hi Frelsöy, Tobias,

Welcome to Azure, and don't worry — the most important thing first: your files are almost certainly safe. You mentioned another system is still using them successfully, which is strong evidence the data still exists in storage. What's happened is that Storage Explorer just isn't showing them to you right now — this is a viewing/connection issue, not data loss, and it's very fixable. Let's walk through it step by step.

  1. Are you signed in with the same account as last week? In Storage Explorer, look at Account Management (the person icon on the left). Confirm the account listed is the same one you used last week. If you have more than one work/Microsoft account, sign in with the correct one — your files may simply be under a different account.
  2. Are you looking at the right subscription and storage account? In the left-hand Explorer pane, expand your subscription, then expand the storage account you used last week. If you see several storage accounts, make sure you've opened the right one — the data lives in one specific account.
  3. Are you opening the right type of storage? (This is the most common cause) Under your storage account you'll see separate sections like Blob Containers and File Shares.
  • If you worked with files/folders, expand File Shares and open your share.
  • If you worked with blobs, expand Blob Containers. Opening the wrong section (e.g., Blob Containers when your data is in File Shares) shows an empty list even though the data is safe elsewhere. Could you check both sections?
  1. If the account/share still looks empty — refresh your sign-in: Go to Help > Reset, make sure Authentication is selected, click Reset, and restart Storage Explorer, then sign in again. This clears a stale session.
  2. Did you originally connect using a link (SAS URL)? If last week you connected via a special link/URL rather than signing in, that link may have expired. If so, you'd need a fresh link, or to sign in with your Azure account instead.

To help me guide you precisely, could you share the details requested over Private message.

Once I have the data, I can pinpoint exactly where your files are and get them showing again. You're in good hands — we'll find them.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-22T05:42:45.48+00:00

    Check these areas in Azure Storage Explorer to locate the missing files and directories:

    1. Confirm the correct storage account and file share/container
      • In the left pane, expand the storage account used last week.
      • For Azure Files: expand File Shares, then open the specific file share: right‑click it and select Open, or double‑click it. The main pane should show that share’s contents.
    2. Verify sign‑in and tenant/environment
      If the files were accessed via an Azure sign‑in (not a SAS URL):
      • Make sure sign‑in is to the correct Azure environment (Azure, Azure China 21Vianet, Azure US Government, or a custom environment).
      • If sign‑in looks wrong or stuck, reset authentication:
        • Go to Help > Reset, ensure Authentication is selected, then Reset and restart Storage Explorer.
        • If issues persist, remove all accounts, close Storage Explorer, delete the .IdentityService folder (per OS path in the docs), then restart and sign in again.
    3. Check permissions (RBAC and data access)
      If the storage account is visible but containers/file shares are empty or inaccessible:
      • Storage Explorer needs management‑layer permissions to list storage accounts and data‑plane permissions to list/read data.
      • At minimum, a Reader role is needed to list storage accounts, plus a data role such as Storage Blob Data Reader (for blobs) or the appropriate Azure Files data role to see data.
      • If roles were changed, ask the Azure admin to confirm that the account still has the required management and data roles.
    4. Attach directly to the resource if management access is missing
      If management‑layer roles cannot be granted but the resource URL is known:
      • Use Connect in Storage Explorer.
      • Choose the resource type (blob container, Data Lake Gen2 container/directory, or queue).
      • Select Sign in using Microsoft Entra ID, then provide the resource URL and a display name.
      • Alternatively, if a SAS URL is available, select Shared access signature (SAS) and attach using that URL.
    5. Check proxy/firewall if using SAS or remote access
      If files were accessed via SAS and now nothing loads:
      • Confirm that the current network/proxy/firewall allows traffic to the storage account endpoints.
      • If behind a proxy, ensure Storage Explorer proxy settings are correct and that the proxy does not block Azure management or resource endpoints.
    6. Verify the correct file share vs. blob container
      Ensure the same service type is being opened as before:
      • For Azure Files: open under File Shares.
      • For blobs: open under Blob Containers.
        Opening the wrong service or a different share/container will show an empty list even though data exists elsewhere.

    If, after confirming the correct account, environment, permissions, and network, the expected file share/container still appears empty, contact the Azure admin to verify that the data still exists in the intended storage account and that no account or firewall changes were made.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Jose Benjamin Solis Nolasco 12,601 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-06-22T13:19:55.88+00:00

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A

    Hello @Frelsöy, Tobias I hope you are doing well,

    When Storage Explorer suddenly shows empty folders, it is usually just a login glitch or a permission change.

    1. Refresh your login Sometimes your login session silently times out.
    2. Check your subscription filters While you are in that Account Management menu, make sure the checkbox next to your Azure Subscription is actually ticked.
    3. Ask about your permissions Azure has two levels of access: one to see the Storage Account itself, and another to actually look inside the folders. If your IT team recently updated security settings, you might need them to grant you a specific role called Storage Blob Data Reader to let you see inside the folders again.

    If my answer helped you resolve your issue, please consider marking it as the correct answer. This helps others in the community find solutions more easily. Thanks!

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