Downloads folder not responding on Windows? Unable to access your files stored in the Downloads folder on Windows 11/10? Well, this usually signals a problem with the File Explorer. Although, don’t worry. By just following a few simple workarounds, you can easily resolve this issue and access the Downloads folder again on Windows.
Downloads Folder not Responding On Windows 11 ? Here’s Why!
Some of the most common reasons that may trigger this issue and the Downloads folder may stop responding on your device include:
- Too many files are stored in the Downloads folder that your computer may not be able to process in the accumulative time.
- File Explorer issues or errors.
- Corrupt system files.
- Misconfigured app settings.
- Presence of a virus or malware.
We’re pretty sure that a lot of important files and data must be stored in the Downloads folder of your device. Right? So, let’s quickly proceed towards the solutions and learn how to access the Downloads folder when it fails to respond on Windows 11/10.
Also read: Accidentally Deleted Windows 10 Downloads Folder – Here Are The Fixes
Solution #1: Run the SFC Scan
SFC (System File Checker) is a useful Windows utility that scans and restores corrupt system files stored on your machine. SFC utility command scans your entire computer to look for corrupt system files and then replaces them with a cached version. To run the SFC command on Windows, here’s what you need to do:
Tap the search icon placed on the Taskbar, type “Command Prompt” and then select the “Run as Administrator” option.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
sfc/scannow
Wait for a few minutes as the scanning process may take a little while. Sit back and relax until the SFC scan is completed.
Once the scan is completed, reboot your device and check if you can access the Downloads folder or not.
Also read: SFC Scan Stops Working on Windows 10? Here’s the Fix!
Solution #2: Use the Windows App Troubleshooter
Open Windows Settings> System> Troubleshoot.
Hit on the “Other Troubleshooters” button.
Scroll through the list of available troubleshooters and look for “Windows Store Apps”. Tap the “Run” button placed right next to it to run the troubleshooter.
As the Downloads folder is partially linked to the File Explorer app, running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter can help you resolve the issue.
Also read: How To Uninstall Apps And Clean Old Downloads In Windows 10?
Solution #3: Change the Folder Settings
Here comes the next workaround to fix the “Downloads folder not responding” issue on Windows 11/10.
- Launch the File Explorer app. Right-click on the “Downloads” option placed on the left menu pane and select “Properties”.
- In the Properties window, switch to the “Customize” tab.
- Select the “Optimize this folder” option and choose “General items” from the drop-down menu.
- Check on the “Also apply this template to all subfolders” option.
- Hit on the OK and Apply buttons to save the recent changes.
Solution #4: Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery
Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Regedit” in the textbox and hit Enter.
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following folder location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
Under the Shell folder, you will see three sub-folder entries.
Right-click on “Bags MRU” and select “Delete”. Now, right-click on “Bags” and select “Delete”.
Right-click on the Shell folder, select New> Key. Name the newly created key as “Bags” in the Shell folder.
Now, right-click on the newly-created Bags key, select New> Key, create a new key, and name it as “AllFolders”.
And finally, right-click on the “AllFolders” key and then select New> Key. Name the new key as “Shell”.
After making these changes, the Shell folder will appear as a subfolder to “AllFolders”.
So, now the folder hierarchy in the Registry Editor should be like:
Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell
Right-click on the newly created Shell folder, select New> String Value. Type “FolderType” under the value name field. Set the value data as “Not Specified”. Hit on OK when done.
After making the above-listed changes, reboot your device and check if the Downloads folder is responding.
Also read: How to Delete the Removable Storage Devices Folder on Windows 10?
Conclusion
Here were a few effective troubleshooting hacks that can help you fix the “Downloads folder not responding” issue on Windows 11/10. As Windows 11 is inherited from Windows 10, the solutions to fix or resolve any issue are pretty much the same.
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Do let us know which hack worked out the best for you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
