File Explorer Sidebar Missing? Fix it Now!

Why does my File Explorer not have the sidebar?

Windows users are generally familiar with File Explorer, a vital tool for accessing files, folders, and drives. The sidebar, known as the Navigation Pane, provides easy access to essential areas such as Quick Access, This PC, Network, and OneDrive (if activated). It also offers shortcuts to recent files, Downloads, Pictures, and disk management.

However, users occasionally encounter issues like folders at the top disappearing from Quick Access or, in more severe cases, the entire sidebar disappearing. These problems can stem from software glitches, user errors, or other technical issues.

This guide outlines four effective solutions to restore the missing File Explorer left pane. Additionally, it addresses related problems like missing Quick Access entries and disappearing data, helping you troubleshoot and regain full functionality.

How to fix the File Explorer sidebar missing issue?

If your File Explorer sidebar has vanished, here are four methods you can try to restore it. Let's dive in!

Method 1. Re-enable the Navigation Pane

The missing sidebar could simply be due to an accidental change. Re-enabling the Navigation Pane should bring it back.

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, click on View, then select Navigation pane from the toolbar. Make sure the Navigation pane option is checked. This should restore the left pane, allowing quick access to your files.

For further adjustments, go to File Explorer > View > Options > View, and tweak the settings for the Navigation Pane to suit your preferences.

Method 2. Restart the Windows Explorer

If re-enabling the pane doesn’t work, restarting Windows Explorer might help. This simple reset can resolve many minor system errors.

Step 1. Right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager.

Step 2. Locate Windows Explorer in the list, then click Restart. Wait a moment for the system to refresh.

Step 3. Check if the sidebar reappears after this process.

Method 3. Run System File Checker

Corrupt system files can cause various File Explorer issues, including a missing sidebar. Running the System File Checker (SFC) will scan and repair these files.

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the Windows search bar, then click Run as administrator to open the Command Prompt.

Step 2. Enter the command sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the scan run to completion.

Step 3. After the scan, restart your computer to see if the sidebar returns.

Method 4. Re-register the shdocvw.dll file

The shdocvw.dll file handles important functions for Internet Explorer, and re-registering it might help restore the File Explorer sidebar.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator by typing “cmd” in the search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the command regsvr32 /i shdocvw and press Enter to execute it.

Step 3. Close the Command Prompt and restart your computer. Check if the sidebar is back once the system restarts.

How to recover lost files from the File Explorer sidebar?

Beyond the missing sidebar, Windows users may encounter other File Explorer problems. If you’ve lost files in File Explorer, a reliable solution is to use AOMEI FastRecovery, a specialized data recovery tool for Windows. Developed by a team with over a decade of experience, AOMEI FastRecovery utilizes advanced scanning technologies and algorithms to make data recovery efficient and user-friendly. Here’s what AOMEI FastRecovery offers:

» Recover lost or deleted files from various storage devices, including internal and external HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards.
» Retrieve data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, emptying the Recycle Bin, malware, and more.
» Recover over 200 file types, including images (JPG, PNG), documents (TXT, PDF, DOCX), presentations (PPT), spreadsheets (XLSX), compressed files (ZIP), videos (AVI), and more.
» Search, filter, and preview files while the scan is in progress, making it easy to locate the specific data you need.
» Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server versions.

Here are steps:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

For those struggling with the file explorer sidebar missing issue, the four methods outlined in this guide can help resolve the issue. Additionally, solutions for other common problems, such as missing Quick Access or lost data, are covered to help you restore functionality. If you experience data loss, try recovering up to 100MB of data for free using a professional tool like AOMEI FastRecovery before seeking further assistance.