File Explorer is the folder icon on your taskbar or in your Start menu

File Explorer is the program that shows you all the files and folders on your computer. On Windows, it looks like a folder icon. The fastest way to open it is to look at the bottom of your screen for the taskbar — a gray or dark bar that runs left to right. You should see a folder icon there. Click it once, and File Explorer opens.

If you do not see the folder icon on your taskbar, you can open File Explorer through the Start menu instead. Click the Windows logo (the four squares) in the bottom left corner, then type "file explorer" into the search box. The program appears at the top of the results. Click it to open.

On a Mac, the equivalent program is called Finder. Look for an icon that looks like a smiling face made of lines in the dock at the bottom of your screen, or press Command + Space and type "Finder".

Key Takeaways

  • The folder icon on your Windows taskbar (bottom of the screen) is the quickest way to open File Explorer.
  • If the folder icon is not visible, use the Windows Start menu and search for "file explorer" by name.
  • You can also press Windows key + E on your keyboard as a keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer when ready.
  • On a Mac, use Finder instead, which you can open from the dock or by pressing Command + Space.

Using the keyboard shortcut

The fastest method if you use File Explorer often is the keyboard shortcut. Hold down the Windows key (the one with the four squares) and press E at the same time. Release both keys. File Explorer opens in about one second.

This shortcut works on any Windows computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11. It works whether you are in another program or on your desktop. If you use File Explorer many times a day, learning this shortcut saves you from clicking the taskbar repeatedly.

Pinning File Explorer to your taskbar if it is missing

If the folder icon is not on your taskbar and you want it there, you can add it. Open File Explorer using the Start menu search (type "file explorer"). Once it is open, right-click the folder icon in the taskbar. A small menu appears. Click "Pin to taskbar". The icon stays there from now on.

If you later want to remove it, right-click the folder icon again and select "Unpin from taskbar". This does not delete File Explorer from your computer — it only removes the shortcut from the taskbar.

What File Explorer shows you

When File Explorer opens, you see a window divided into two main areas. On the left side is a list of common locations: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and others. On the right side is the contents of whichever folder you have selected. At the very top is an address bar that shows you exactly where you are in your file system.

The left sidebar also shows "This PC" at the top, which displays all the drives (hard drives, USB drives, external drives) connected to your computer. Clicking "This PC" shows you everything. This is useful if you need to find a file but are not sure which folder it is in.

Navigating between folders

To move into a folder, double-click it. To go back to the previous folder, click the back arrow button at the top left of the window, or press the Backspace key on your keyboard. The forward arrow button moves you ahead if you have gone back.

You can also type a path directly into the address bar at the top if you know exactly where a file is. For example, if you type C:\Users\YourName\Documents and press Enter, File Explorer takes you straight there. This is faster than clicking through many folders one at a time.

Searching for a file in File Explorer

If you cannot remember where a file is, use the search box in the top right corner of File Explorer. Type the name of the file or part of its name. File Explorer searches the current folder and all folders inside it. Results appear below as you type.

If you want to search your entire computer, first click "This PC" on the left sidebar, then use the search box. Searching the whole computer takes longer but finds files no matter where they are stored.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not confuse File Explorer with Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge — those are web browsers for looking at websites. File Explorer is for looking at files and folders on your computer itself. The folder icon is the right one.

If you accidentally delete a file in File Explorer, check the Recycle Bin (a trash can icon on your desktop or in File Explorer). Files stay there for a while before being permanently removed. Right-click the file in the Recycle Bin and select "Restore" to put it back where it was.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between File Explorer and the Recycle Bin?

File Explorer is the program that shows you all your files and folders. The Recycle Bin is a special folder where deleted files go before they are permanently removed from your computer. You open the Recycle Bin through File Explorer or by double-clicking its icon on your desktop.

Can I open File Explorer on a Mac the same way as Windows?

No. Macs use Finder instead of File Explorer. Click the smiling face icon in the dock at the bottom of your screen, or press Command + Space and type "Finder". The layout and names are different, but Finder does the same job as File Explorer.

Why does my taskbar not show the folder icon?

The icon may have been unpinned or hidden. Use the Windows key + E shortcut to open File Explorer, or search for "file explorer" in the Start menu. Once it is open, right-click the folder icon in the taskbar and select "Pin to taskbar" to make it stay.

Can I search for files by type, like all my photos or all my PDFs?

Yes. In File Explorer, click the search box and type the file extension, like "*.jpg" for photos or "*.pdf" for PDFs. You can also use the filter options that appear after you search — look for buttons labeled by file type at the top of the results.