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PhilipPark's avatar
PhilipPark
Iron Contributor
Sep 23, 2026

Why did File Explorer tabs stop working on Windows 11?

Why did the tabbed interface in File Explorer suddenly stop working on my Windows 11 PC, so that every folder I open launches in a separate window instead of a new tab? The tabs were working fine bef...
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LauraBennett's avatar
LauraBennett
Brass Contributor
Sep 24, 2026

Opening folders in separate windows doesn’t necessarily mean tabs are broken—File Explorer doesn’t automatically send every folder you open to a new tab. But the tab bar and “Open in new tab” option disappearing are worth checking.

Press Win + E, then Ctrl + T. If a new tab opens, tabs are still working. For folders opening in separate windows, go to … > Options > General and select Open each folder in the same window. That reuses the current window; it doesn’t automatically create tabs.

If Ctrl + T does nothing and the tab bar is missing, check whether you have ExplorerPatcher, StartAllBack, or another Explorer customization tool installed. An older Explorer interface enabled by one of these tools can remove tabs. Disable its Explorer modifications and restart Windows to test.

If you don’t use those tools, open Task Manager, select Windows Explorer, and choose Restart. If tabs are still missing, run these commands in Terminal (Admin), one after the other:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth sfc /scannow

Restart afterward. These repair Windows components without resetting your profile. There isn’t enough information to identify a particular update bug, and editing the registry isn’t a good first step here.