File Explorer Sidebar Missing | Fix it Quickly!

Why does my File Explorer not have the sidebar?

Windows users will be familiar with File Explorer. The sidebar, or Navigation Pane of File Explorer, provides quick access to files, folders, and drives, including Quick Access, This PC, Network, and OneDrive (if enabled). It also lets users easily reach recent files, Downloads, and Pictures, and check their disks.

But sometimes, due to software errors, human errors, or other issues, users may get bothered by problems like folders at the top disappearing from Quick Access; sometimes, they even find the File Explorer sidebar missing from the window.

If you want to know how to fix the File Explorer left pane missing issue, this article provides 4 effective ways to help you. What’s more, some other File Explorer issues like Quick Access missing or data missing will be addressed.

How to fix the File Explorer sidebar missing issue?

Firstly, we are about to settle the File Explorer not showing left pane. How do I get the side panel back on File Explorer? 4 methods are available for you to try. Let’s start!

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Method 1. Fix File Explorer not showing left pane by re-enabling it

Try re-enabling the Navigation Pane if the pane was lost due to human error.

The toolbar is very helpful in file targeting. For instance, users could utilize the search tools to find lost PDF files, documents, photos, videos, and whatever they need.

>> Start File Explorer by pressing the Windows + E key > click View > click Navigation pane on the toolbar > tick Navigation pane. Then the left pane will be visible, and you can access your wanted files in a breeze.

* To specify your Navigation pane: File Explorer > View > Options > View > scroll down and change the Navigation pane settings as you like.

Method 2. Restart the Windows Explorer

If the first method cannot work, you may need to restart the Windows File Explorer. Restarting is a feasible measure to fix some common system errors. A bunch of users will restart to repair drive errors.

Step 1. Right-click the taskbar > Task Manager.

Step 2. Locate Windows Explorer > Restart > wait for the system to process.

After that, you may check if the File Explorer left pane missing issue has been settled.

Method 3. Run System File Checker

Since system file corruption might cause your Windows 10 File Explorer side panel missing, another way is to run System File Checker to scan and repair these corrupted system files.

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and click “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

Step 2. Type the command lines - sfc /scannow and press “Enter” to go on.

Method 4. Re-register the shdocvw.dll file

To fix the issue of the File Explorer left pane missing, you can try re-registering the shdocvw.dll file. This file contains essential functions such as history maintenance, favorites maintenance, HTML parsing, etc. for Internet Explorer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar and choose Run as administrator to open the command prompt window.

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

Step 3. After that, you can close the window and restart it to check whether the File Explorer sidebar reappears or not.

Further reading: troubleshoot other File Explorer issues

Except for the File Explorer side panel missing issue, users might run into other problems as well.

Some users have reported that Quick Access is invisible as well. Moreover, some even find their files lost from File Explorer. The further reading part will help you solve them.

1. How to recover lost files from the File Explorer sidebar?

Another upsetting problem users might face is data loss caused by various reasons. File deletion, disk formatting, viruses, etc., can lead to file loss. Among all these causes, deletion is the most prominent one. While file backups or data recovery services can help, many users don't have file backups available.

So, how can you recover deleted files in File Explorer? For a safe and efficient solution, consider using AOMEI FastRecovery , a specialized Windows data recovery tool, developed by a team with over ten years of experience. AOMEI FastRecovery features advanced scanning technologies and algorithms, making data recovery straightforward and effective.

Recover lost and deleted files from internal and external HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc. 

Recover data after deletion, formatting, emptying the recycle bin, malware infestation, etc. 

200+ recoverable data kinds are available, such as jpg, png, txt, ppt, xlsx, pdf, zip, avi, and more.

Support search, filter, preview files as you like while running a scan. 

Available on Windows 11,10, 8, 7, Server.

Cost-free data recovery over 500MB.

Notes:✎...

Before data recovery, do not add any other files to the source drive to avoid data overwriting.

Step 1. Install and run the program > hover the mouse over the source drive (where the lost or deleted files are stored)> click Scan.

Step 2. While scanning, you may search the scanned files by filenames or extensions. Filters like Type, Size, Path, etc., can help you locate the target files much faster.

Step 3. Click Deleted files/Recycle Bin > select the files you have lost or deleted > click Recover x files. If no wanted files were found, go to Other missing files > select specific types to retrieve.

Not only deletion, but this tool can also apply to disk formatting – you could utilize it to recover accidentally formatted hard drive.

2. How to fix Quick Access folders missing from the Navigation Pane?

Some users may find Windows File Explorer Quick Access is missing after changing the folder options or system crashes. Check the methods below.

>> This PC > View > Options > tick Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access > Apply.

If this doesn’t help, try resetting the folders to fix it.

>> This PC > View > Options > View > click Reset Folders.

Hope this helps you solve the Quick Access missing issue.

Wrapping up

Users who find the File Explorer sidebar missing could adopt the 4 feasible methods in this post. In addition, other File Explorer issues like Quick Access missing or data missing are settled in this post, too. If you have data loss, please first try to recover 500MB of data for free using professional data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery.