PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Community Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard Trending Forums Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth LOG IN Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account Browse Articles Quizzes & Games All Quizzes Hot Community Quizzes Personality Quizzes Dating Simulator Learn Something New Support wikiHow Log in / Sign up Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Last Updated: October 5, 2025 Fact Checked Windows 10 and 8 Windows 7 and Vista This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Rain is a tech writer and editor for wikiHow with over 5 years of professional writing experience. In the past, Rain has worked with other creative writers as a Writing Tutor at San Francisco State University and has published gaming features, guides, and news articles for a variety of media outlets. Rain shares a lifelong passion for writing and gaming and is eager to grow alongside new tech inventions. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 953,700 times. Learn more... The Windows Explorer (or File Explorer) allows you to find and browse all the files on your computer. Whether you're running Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or earlier, you can easily open this tool in the Start menu or with a quick keyboard shortcut . Here's how to open Windows Explorer on your Windows desktop computer or laptop. Finding and Starting Windows File Explorer To open the File Explorer in Windows 10 or 11, click the folder icon in the taskbar. You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Windows key + E . [1] X Research source 1 Click the folder icon on the taskbar. By default, this will be on your Windows taskbar at the bottom of your screen. This will open the File Explorer immediately. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Alternatively, click the Start menu and click the folder icon. Alternatively, click the Start menu and click the folder icon. 2 Use a keyboard shortcut (optional). [3] X Research source You can open the File Explorer using your keyboard. Press Windows key + E . Press Windows key + E . Windows 10 and 8 1 Click the Start menu . This will be in the bottom-left corner of your screen. On Windows 8, instead hover your mouse in the upper-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon. On Windows 8, instead hover your mouse in the upper-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon. 2 Click the "Documents" icon. This is the icon between your user icon and Pictures icon. The Documents folder will open in the File Explorer. To pin the File Explorer to your taskbar, right-click the icon and click Pin to taskbar . To pin the File Explorer to your taskbar, right-click the icon and click Pin to taskbar . 3 Use a keyboard shortcut (optional). You can open the File Explorer using your keyboard. Press Windows key + E . [4] X Research source Press Windows key + E . [4] X Research source Windows 7 and Vista

1 Open the Start menu . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen or press the Windows key. 2 Type windows explorer into Start. You should see a folder icon appear at the top of the Start window. 3 Click Windows Explorer. It's the folder-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. Doing so will open the Windows Explorer app. With Windows Explorer open, you can "pin it" to your taskbar which will allow you to launch Windows Explorer with a single click. Right-click the Windows Explorer icon at the bottom of the screen, then click Pin to taskbar . With Windows Explorer open, you can "pin it" to your taskbar which will allow you to launch Windows Explorer with a single click. Right-click the Windows Explorer icon at the bottom of the screen, then click Pin to taskbar . 4 Use a keyboard shortcut (optional). You can open Windows Explorer using your keyboard. Press Windows key + E . [5] X Research source Press Windows key + E . [5] X Research source Question How do I back up my files before installing a new OS? Bat 🦇 Top Answerer See How to Back Up Data . Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 14 Question Where is Windows Explorer in Windows 8.1? Bat 🦇 Top Answerer See How to Open File Explorer for specific instructions that apply to newer versions of Windows like 8.1. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 16 Question What is the purpose of Windows Explorer? Community Answer The purpose of Windows Explorer is to let you view, open, copy, move, and otherwise manage your files and folders. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 11 You Might Also Like ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/7-ways-to-open-file-explorer-in-windows-10/ ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1#WindowsVersion=Windows_11 ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/7-ways-to-open-file-explorer-in-windows-10/ ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/7-ways-to-open-file-explorer-in-windows-10/ ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/7-ways-to-open-file-explorer-in-windows-10/ About This Article 1. Open Start . 2. Type File Explorer (Windows 10 and 8) or Windows Explorer (Windows 7 and Vista). 3. Click the matching result. Did this summary help you? Yes No Send fan mail to authors Is this article up to date? Quizzes & Games You Might Also Like Trending Articles Trending Articles Take the Quiz. Face the Truth. 🔥 Decode Yourself 🧩 Featured Videos Hot Takes Only 🔥 Your Daily Dose of Fun 🎉 Computers and Electronics Operating Systems Do Not Sell or Share My Info Not Selling Info wikiHow Tech Help Pro: Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve