This is a repost, with updated information. The same issue has occurred a couple times, even on the latest build. Here is a link to the previous one: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/report-an-issue/windows-11-file-explorer-bug-report/m-p/26706...
I just posted in the wrong community.
I am on the latest preview build of windows 11 to date (see bottom of post). I do many things on my laptop, one of which being browsing files. Before I start, however, here is my system info:
Device name Aerwiar-Gramdalf
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.59 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.8 GB usable)
Device ID 50F4A433-D89A-476C-A5F6-E2A4876BFE02
Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA116
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display
Edition Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview
Version Dev
Installed on 2021-09-12
OS build 22454.1000
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22454.1000.0
Now with that out of the way, here is what the problem is. Sometimes, though not always, I will open file explorer via the start menu (win + search for file explorer), it won't launch. I could wait hours, but it still won't launch (to my knowledge). The only fix seems to be simply to press the windows key, thus bringing up the start menu again. File explorer will then immediately open, and be brought to the front (as if it was just opened). A few modifications I have made to my system that may effect this are as follows:
Taskbar: auto hide in desktop = true
extra programs: IMGBurn, WinFSP, WinSSH.
WinFSP and WinSSH are linux compatibility programs, allowing you to use the 'ssh' command from linux natively on windows (i.e. in windows terminal or cmd). WinFSP is a further program, allowing you to mount a drive on a server running linux as a local drive (this uses port 22, same as ssh. It uses sftp if I am correct).
One last thing: I noticed this both on the current version as well as the last couple, listed below (I copied all of them as I wasn't entirely sure which could possibly affect it).
Windows 11 Insider Preview 22454.1000 (rs_prerelease)
Windows 11 Insider Preview 22449.1000 (rs_prerelease)
Windows 11 Insider Preview 10.0.22000.100 (co_release)
2021-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5005191)
Cumulative Update for Windows 11 (10.0.22000.160) (KB5005189)
2021-08 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 11 for x64 (KB5004342)
2021-08 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 11 for x64 (KB5004342)
Cumulative Update for Windows 11 (10.0.22000.132) (KB5005190)
2021-06 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10 Version Next for x64 (KB5004034)
