How to Fix File Explorer Left Pane Missing in Windows 11?

Is the File Explorer left pane lacking in your Windows 11 PC? In this information, we are going to know what may trigger this downside and the varied troubleshooting ideas you may observe to resolve the problem simply.

Normally, whenever you open File Explore, on the left-hand panel, you will notice all of the vital places in your PC. It contains the exhausting drives and the folder that you’ve often accessed. Also, you may entry the Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos, and OneDrive from the File Explorer left pane.

The File Explorer left pane is also called the navigation pane. There are just a few widespread the reason why the File Explorer navigation pane could also be invisible. You could have unknowingly disabled it, or it may very well be a glitch with the Windows OS. The downside could also be prompted due to some corrupt system file.

Tips to Fix File Explorer Left Pane Missing in Windows 11

Try these troubleshooting ideas to allow the navigation panel on the left facet of the File Explorer for straightforward entry to libraries and drives in your PC. On the opposite hand, in case you have bother accessing File Explorer in Windows 11, then examine this information out.

1. Enable the Left-hand Navigation Panel of File Explorer

Start by enabling the navigation panel on the File Explorer. The most typical mistake anybody could make is to disable the left navigation pane after which marvel why it’s not seen.

To allow the navigation pane,

1. Press Windows + E to open the File Explorer.
2.  On the toolbar on the prime, click on on View.
3. From the menu click on on Show > click on on Navigation Pane.
   

You will see a tick beside Navigation Pane which implies it’s enabled in File Explorer.

2. Restart Windows Explorer

This repair includes restarting the File Explorer from the Task Manager.

1. Press the hotkeys Ctrl +Shift +Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Under Apps, scroll to Windows Explorer and right-click on it.
3. From the menu, click on on Restart.
   
4. Close the Task Manager and entry File Explorer.

3. Clear the File Explorer History

To clear the File Explorer historical past, you have got to entry the folder choices dialog field.

1. Open File Explorer by clicking the hotkeys Windows + E.
2. Click the 3-dot icon on the far proper finish of the toolbar.
3. From the menu, click on on Options.
   
4. In the Folder Options dialog field, click on on the General tab.
5. Within that, scroll to Clear File Explorer History below the Privacy tab and click on on the button Clear.
   
6. Close the dialog field and launch File Explorer once more.

4. Restart the PC

At instances, it has been noticed that random glitches on the Windows OS might be handled by merely restarting the PC. To restart your Windows 11 system,

1. Press the Windows key to deliver up the search console.
2. Then click on the Power icon on the backside proper nook of the search field.
3. From the small menu that pops up, click on on the button Restart.
   

5. Install Windows 11 Update

To repair any bugs on the present model of Windows OS put in in your PC, search for new software program updates which might be accessible for obtain. Here are the steps for you.

1. Press Windows + I to open the settings.
2. Click on Windows Update on the left facet panel.
   
3. Then click on on Check for Updates.
   
4. If an replace is obtainable, then click on on Download Now to begin the set up.
   

To full the replace set up, observe the directions on the display. After ending the replace, the PC will restart. Then open the File Explorer and examine if the left pane is now seen.

6. Search for Corrupt System Files and Fix Them

You can implement the SFC and DISM scans on Windows 11 to seek for presumably corrupt system information and substitute/repair them. These instructions might be issued utilizing the Command Prompt. Let’s take a look at the steps.

1. Open the Command Prompt utilizing the Windows search with Administrator permissions.
   
2. Enter the command

   sfc/scannow

   

3. Press enter
4. To carry out a DISM scan enter the next instructions.

   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /CheckWell being 
   
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanWell being 
   
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreWell being

   

While these instructions are executed, and the seek for corrupt system information is occurring, you have got to wait a bit and never interrupt the method by any means.

7. Re-Register System Apps

As File Explorer is a system app, you may re-register it utilizing Windows PowerShell.

1. Launch Windows PowerShell utilizing the native search perform.
   
2. Click on Yes when the immediate seems.
3. Now, enter this command

   Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "SystemApps"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

   

4. Press enter and wait till the re-registration is full. It could take just a few seconds.

After finishing the steps, press Windows + E to open File Explorer and examine if the left pane is now exhibiting up.

8. Rollback Windows Update

It could occur {that a} latest Windows Update that you simply put in could have introduced some bug into the system, inflicting it to showcase this glitch the place the navigation panel of the file explorer goes lacking. To repair that you would be able to roll again or uninstall the latest software program replace that you simply put in in your laptop.

1. Press Windows + S to open the Search.
2. Type Uninstall Updates and click on Open.
   
3. Scroll to essentially the most lately put in replace construct and click on on Uninstall.
   
4. When the affirmation pop-up seems once more, click on on Uninstall to proceed.
5. Close the Settings and restart the PC.

9. Re-register Shdocvw.DLL File

This vital DLL file could have been deregistered for some motive, and it could have occurred due to a corrupt system file. You have to re-register this file utilizing the command immediate.

1. Launch the Command Prompt by urgent Windows + S and typing cmd in the search field.
   
2. Now enter this command and press enter.

   regsvr32 /i shdocvw

   

3. Close the command immediate after executing the above command.

Now, open the File Explorer and examine for the lacking left pane.

10. Perform a System Restore

Performing a system restore will take your PC again to a timeline the place there was no error with the File Explorer. This means the left pane on the File Explorer was exhibiting up. Here are the step to restore the Windows 11 system.

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type in restore in the search console.
3. When Create A Restore Point seems, click on on Open.
   
   
4. On the System Properties dialog field, below System Protection, click on on the button System Restore.
   
   
5. Click the Next button to proceed.
6. Select a restore level and click on Next.
   
   
7. For an inventory of the packages and providers that can be eliminated in the course of the course of, click on Scan for Affected Programs.
8. Once the restore level has been verified, click on Finish to proceed.

11. Reset the Computer

As a last repair, when different troubleshooting strategies didn’t yield any end result in making the navigation pane seen in File Explorer, it’s time to reset the PC. It is a manufacturing unit reset that can wipe out each knowledge current on the pc and uninstall all of the apps on it.

Before starting the reset course of, again up your vital information and folders on a USB drive or an exterior exhausting drive. Here are the steps to reset Windows 11 PC.

1. Press Windows + S to go to search.
2. Type Reset This PC and click on Open.
   
3. Then scroll to the button Reset PC and click on on it.
   
4. Click on Keep My Files to safeguard the information on the C drive, and you may have them once more after the pc begins after the completion of the Reset course of.
   
5. Select whether or not you need to do Cloud Installation (requires web connection)or Local Installation (putting in Windows OS would not require web connection) of Windows 11 after resetting.
   
6. Click Next till you see the Resetting Will bullet itemizing. Click on View Apps that can be eliminated.
7. Take a screengrab of those apps checklist so as to set up them post-reset from the online.
8. Click on Back and click on on Reset.

Your PC will restart a few instances in the course of the reset. Do not interrupt any course of whereas the resetting is occurring actively. After the reset, set up new software program updates and set up the mandatory apps on the pc that you simply had been utilizing beforehand.

Then examine if the navigation pane on the left of the display is exhibiting when opening the File Explorer.

Navigate Through the Drives and Folders Using the File Explorer Left Pane

The navigation panel on the left hand of the File Explorer makes it simpler for you to entry your knowledge unfold throughout numerous drives, directories, and folders. If you aren’t seeing the left pane of the File Explorer, you need to instantly observe the ideas I’ve shared in this information to re-enable the function or repair some other points which might be inflicting the navigation pane to disappear.