when i open file explorer i no longer can use a tabbed view.

Question

when i open file explorer i no longer can use a tabbed view.

Chris Booth 5

file explorer tabs are not working since the last update. 3 days ago

User's image

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

1 answer

Answer 1

Ivy Bui (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 515 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Chris Booth, I am Ivy.

Thank you for reaching out. The tabbed view in File Explorer is a feature available in Windows 11 (starting with version 22H2 and later). If tabs disappeared after a recent update, here are some steps to restore them:

Check Windows Version
- Press Win + R, type winver, and confirm you are on Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer.
- If you are on Windows 10, tabs are not a native feature.

Install Latest Updates

Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
Install all pending updates and restart your PC.

Restart File Explorer

  - Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** to open Task Manager.
  
     - Find **Windows Explorer**, right-click, and select **Restart**.

Clear Explorer Cache (Optional)

Run command and execute:

     taskkill /f /im explorer.exe 
     del /q "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache" 
     del /q "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache" 
     start explorer

Check Group Policy Settings

If your device is managed by an organization, policies may enforce the classic File Explorer. Contact your IT administrator to confirm.

If you are on Windows 11 and tabs still do not appear after these steps, please let us know your Windows build number and whether this is a company-managed device so we can assist further.

If you found this answer helpful, please click "Accept Answer" to share the love with everyone! 💖😊🌸✨

Thank you again for your patience and support!

Ivy Bui

EDGAR CHAVEZ 5 Reputation points

2026-02-25T18:32:23.3966667+00:00

Ten minutes ago, I let windows 11 run a routine update, I have Windows 11 25H2 (OS build 26200.7922)... and now my windows explorer looks like the picture above, as if I had W10 installed.
How can I have my Windows explorer back to the way it was before with TABS?
EDGAR CHAVEZ 5 Reputation points

2026-02-25T18:42:11.53+00:00

Hello @Ivy Bui (WICLOUD CORPORATION) ....
Ten minutes ago, I let windows 11 run a routine update, I have Windows 11 25H2 (OS build 26200.7922)... and now my windows explorer looks like the picture below, as if I had W10 installed.

How can I have my Windows explorer back to the way it was before with TABS?

If you see the image below, I no longer have the "Open in a new tab" in my context menus...
Ivy Bui (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 515 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-26T07:00:33.4066667+00:00
Hi EDGAR CHAVEZ,

In Windows 10, File Explorer uses the Ribbon interface (File / Home / Share / View). Windows 10 never supported File Explorer tabs.

In Windows 11 (22H2 and later, including 25H2), Microsoft removed the Ribbon and introduced:

A simplified command bar, and

File Explorer tabs, including “Open in a new tab” in the right‑click menu.

From your screenshots, File Explorer on your Windows 11 system has temporarily reverted to the classic Windows 10–style Ribbon interface. When this happens:

The tab bar disappears

“Open in a new tab” is removed from context menus

File Explorer looks and behaves like Windows 10

This can occur immediately after a Windows update, when File Explorer does not fully reload the modern Windows 11 interface.

You can find steps to restore File Explorer tabs (recommended order)

Step 1: Restart File Explorer (most common fix)

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

Find Windows Explorer

Right‑click it and select Restart

Open File Explorer again and check if tabs return

Step 2: Restart the PC (important after updates)

Windows updates often require a full restart (not just closing windows).

Click Start > Power > Restart

After logging back in, open File Explorer and check for tabs

Step 3: Check that no classic Explorer setting is enabled

Sometimes a setting is toggled during updates.

Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

If you see values such as:

UseWin32Explorer

EnableClassicExplorer

SeparateProcess

→ delete those entries if present

Restart File Explorer or reboot

Step 4: If the issue started immediately after the update

The update may not have applied cleanly.

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history

Select Uninstall updates

Remove the most recent cumulative update

Restart the PC

Check for updates again

Hope this can help you.

Ivy Bui
Maria Eckert 0 Reputation points

2026-06-18T16:31:44.0533333+00:00
Hi,
we are seeing a reproducible issue with File Explorer on Windows 11 after installing KB5094126.

System information:

Windows 11 Professional Edition, Release-ID: 25H2, Version: 10.0.26200.8655

Problem:

Before installing KB5094126, File Explorer works normally and shows the modern Windows 11 interface, including tabs. The option to open folders in a new tab is available.

After installing KB5094126, File Explorer changes back to an older/classic appearance. The tab bar is missing, and it is no longer possible to open folders in new tabs. The Explorer UI looks like the old Windows 10 / classic Explorer style instead of the modern Windows 11 Explorer.

Reproducibility:

The issue is reproducible on our system:

Windows 11 25H2 without KB5094126 installed: File Explorer works correctly with the modern UI and tabs.

Install KB5094126: File Explorer falls back to the old/classic UI and tabs are missing.

Uninstall KB5094126: File Explorer immediately works correctly again with the modern UI and tabs.

The issue occurs for both an AD user profile and a local user profile on the same machine, so it does not seem to be caused by a user-specific setting.

We have already tried typical repair steps such as restarting Explorer, clear Explorer cache, rebooting the system, SFC/DISM checks, and re-registering relevant AppX/system shell packages, but the issue only depends on whether KB5094126 is installed or not.

Question:

Is this a known issue with KB5094126?

Is there any supported workaround that allows us to keep the Update installed while retaining the modern Windows 11 File Explorer with tabs?

Thank you
José Gouveia 0 Reputation points

2026-07-17T16:18:27.07+00:00

Boa tarde.

Após os últimos updates no windows 11 Pro na versão 25H2 (Pack de Experiência de Funcionalidades do Windows 1000.26100.334.0) o explorador do windows ficou com o aspecto de uma versão antiga e sem possibilidade de trabalhar com tabs ou abas conforme a última evolução implementada pela Microsoft. Já foram realizados todos os procedimentos indicados online pelo TI mas sem sucesso, na recuperação da funcionalidade. Podem sff ajudar ou disponibilizar novo update de sistema que reponha a configuração inoperacional, muito obrigado.
Leong 21 Reputation points

2026-09-09T02:03:05.62+00:00

Facing this issue at the moment, anyway around it? 25H2
Leong 21 Reputation points

2026-09-09T06:39:04.1233333+00:00

we need to reset the corrupted user profile.

login local admin and delete the problematic user profile. (cache)

restart. do check the user folder is clean and deleted.

login again the user credential. it should work