How to Open File Explorer on Windows 11?

File Explorer is a built-in file manager application on Windows 11 OS. File Explorer is one of the most required applications in Windows 11 that lets you open, move, copy, rename, or delete files and many more features. It helps you easily direct and manages your computer’s drives, folders, and files.

This risewindows article will elaborate on many ways to open File Explorer on Windows 11. These areas are below:

1. Taskbar shortcut
2. WinX Menu
3. Task Manager
4. Shortcut key
5. Start Menu
6. Command Prompt
7. PowerShell
8. Desktop Shortcut
9. Run box

Open File Explorer using the Taskbar shortcut

Windows 11 includes a shortcut of File Explorer on the Taskbar by default. You can open it by clicking on the File Explorer button from the Taskbar.

Open File Explorer via WinX Menu

WinX or Power menu is another option to open File Explorer on your Windows 11 computer. WinX Menu includes a lot of shortcuts to many built-in functions of Windows 11, including Command Prompt, File Explorer, Device Manager, Mobility Center, Task Manager, and much more.

It will help if you right-click the Start button to access the WinX or Power Menu on Windows 11. Another way, press Windows + X hotkey from your keyboard. After that, select the File Explorer option to open it.

Open File Explorer through Task Manager

Task Manager monitors system performance and startup tasks on a Windows PC. Very few Windows 11 users know to use it; they can also open the File Explorer application.

Start with launching the Task Manager app by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc hotkey. After that, click on the File menu and then select the Run new task option.

Next, type explorer and then click on the OK button to launch File Explorer on the dialog box that appears on your screen.

Quick Note: We need to run File Explorer with administrative rights and check the checkbox labeled “Create this task with administrative privileges” before pressing the OK button.

Open File Explorer with Shortcut key

Press the Windows + E shortcuts keys from the keyboard to open File Explorer on your Windows 11 computer. It is another method to launch File Explorer on any Windows PC.

Open File Explorer with the help of the Start Menu

File Explorer also exists in the Start Menu, like other applications on your PC. For that, click on the Start button and then click on the All apps button.

Now, please scroll down to find the File Explorer option and click on it.

Open File Explorer by Command Prompt

You can perform several tasks through Command Prompt on Windows 11, including opening File Explorer. Launch Command Prompt on your PC and type explorer in it. Press [keybtOUR]Enter[/keybt] from the keyboard to open the File Explorer app.

Open File Explorer using PowerShell

If you prefer to use PowerShell, you can use the same command to Launch File Explorer on Windows 11. Open PowerShell by typing PowerShell on the Start menu search and then clicking on its entry.

Now, type explorer and press Enter key from the keyboard to open File Explorer on Windows PowerShell.

Open File Explorer via Desktop Shortcut

You might prefer to create a shortcut icon for the File Explorer app to open it quickly if you frequently access the desktop to open different types of applications. Now, right-click on the blank space on the Desktop and select the New > Shortcut option.

After that, type explorer.exe and click on the Next button from the “Create Shortcut” dialog box search bar.

Click on the Finish button.

When you are done with the above steps, you will see a shortcut of Explorer on your Windows 11 Desktop. Then, double-click on this shortcut icon to open File Explorer.

Open File Explorer with Run box

You can easily use the Run dialog box to access File Explorer. To do so, click on the Windows + R keys from the keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Now, type explorer in the box and click on the OK button to open the File Explorer window.

Also Read: How to Open File Explorer on Windows 10?