Why is my Downloads folder not opening in Windows 10?

A: There could be various reasons why you're experiencing difficulty opening the Downloads folder in Windows 10. Some common causes include file permission issues, corrupted user profiles, antivirus or firewall settings, malware or virus infections, system file corruption, third-party software conflicts, or Windows updates. Troubleshooting these issues by checking permissions, scanning for malware, adjusting security settings, running system utilities, or uninstalling conflicting software can often resolve the problem.

How do I change the default location of the Downloads folder in Windows 10?

A: To change the default location of the Downloads folder in Windows 10, follow these steps: Right-click on the current Downloads folder and select "Properties." Go to the "Location" tab. Click on the "Move" button. Browse to the desired location where you want to move the Downloads folder. Select the new location and click "OK." You'll be asked if you want to move all the existing files from the old location to the new one. Choose "Yes" to move them or "No" to keep them in the old location. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. The Downloads folder will now be relocated to the new location you specified.

How do I fix the Downloads folder not opening in Windows 10?

Here are some steps you can take to fix the issue of being unable to open the Downloads folder in Windows 10: Check file permissions: Right-click on the Downloads folder, select "Properties," navigate to the "Security" tab, and ensure that your user account has the necessary permissions. Create a new user account: If the problem persists, create a new user account and check if you can access the Downloads folder using the new account. If successful, you may need to transfer your files to the new account. Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall: Disable your antivirus or firewall temporarily to determine if they are blocking access to the Downloads folder. Adjust the settings of your security software to allow access if needed. Scan for malware: Perform a thorough scan using reliable antivirus software to check for any malicious programs. Remove or quarantine any threats found. Run System File Checker (SFC): Open Command Prompt as an administrator, type "sfc /scannow" (without quotes), and press Enter. This will scan and repair corrupt system files that may be affecting the Downloads folder. Resolve software conflicts: Boot your computer into Safe Mode and check if you can open the Downloads folder. If successful, uninstall recently installed programs or services that may be conflicting with it. Uninstall recent Windows updates: If the issue started after a recent Windows update, uninstall the update and see if it resolves the problem.

Can't Open Downloads Folder in Windows 10? 5 Ways to Fix it

Simon Marcus

2023-07-04 20:12:18

56353 views, 3 min read

Anonymous

I was trying to download some files and when I did this, I wasn't allowed to access my Downloads folder. My computer uses a Windows 10 version, what can I do to fix this?

It is a common problem that some users find out that they can't open the Downloads folder on Windows 10 computer, which means that they are unable to access the stuff they downloaded before. However, resolving this problem and trying to recover download files in Windows 10 error isn't easy unless you're an expert with computers. And you could waste a lot of time using ineffective methods.

To save you time we've gathered 5 of the top easiest fixes so that you can recover deleted downloads within the shortest time.

interface of Can't Open Downloads Folder in Windows 10

Fix 1: Run System File Checker
Fix 2: Restore Windows System
Fix 3: Optimize the Downloads Folder for General Items
Fix 4: Change View Settings
Fix 5: Recover Deleted Downloads Folder with Software [Editor's Choice]

Fix 1. Run System File Checker

The first thing to do when you see a not responding/inaccessible Downloads folder is to run the System File Checker. The purpose of this built-in Windows utility is to scan all of the system files. This scan will detect any corrupt, faulty, or missing system files that could cause issues with the Windows' functionality.

Step 1. Search CMD in the search bar, right-click on "Command Prompt", and click "Run as Administrator".
Step 2. Type in the command "DISM.exe /online cleanup-image /restorehealth", press the Enter key, and wait a second.
Step 3. Next, type in the command "sfc /scannow", press the Enter key, and wait. This command will take much longer to run than the previous command.

Run System File Checker

Step 4. Once the scan finishes, you'll be shown a message if any corrupt files were repaired. Turn off the computer and back on to finalize the repair.

Since the Downloads folder is created by the system, this command will detect if any underlying problems are affecting the folder. It also automatically repairs the folder if necessary.

Fix 2. Restore Windows System

Another fix you can try is restoring the Windows system. This will usually help fix can't open Downloads folder in Windows 10 error if the problem arose after you updated Windows. Even small updates can cause features to break and reverting to the previous version will fix anything that was broken as a result.

To use this solution, a Restore Point must be available. For some Windows updates the system will create them. However, this isn't frequent and it's ideal if users remember to create reliable Restore Points. Hopefully, there is a point available in which case, follow these steps.

Step 1. In the Windows search bar, enter "System Protection" and choose "Create a Restore Point" from the search results.
Step 2. Confirm that you are in the "System Protection" tab, and select the C: Drive. Click on "Configure" and ensure that the "Turn on System Protection" setting is currently active. Click "Apply" then "OK".

restore windows system

Step 3. Navigate back to the System Properties window and now click the "System Restore…" button.
Step 4. Several restore points will be listed, select the most recent available point (presumably right before you updated).
Step 5. Windows will walk you through the remaining steps with on-screen instructions.

It's worth mentioning that this does 't impact your files. Only system files will be restored so there's no need to worry about losing personal data from using this Windows tool.

Fix 3. Optimize the Downloads Folder for General Items

Still can't open Downloads Windows 10? The third fix we suggest trying is much simpler than the others so far. After you download any file, Windows takes the liberty of filtering it into a category – music, photos, videos, etc. Certain folders, like the Pictures folder, are automatically set to optimize files as photos.

Step 1. Search "This PC" and open up the This PC file explorer menu.
Step 2. At the top of the window, locate and right-click on "Downloads", and select "Properties".

Optimize the Downloads Folder for General Items

Step 3. Click on the "Customize" tab and under the "Optimize this folder for" option, click the drop-down menu and choose "General items".
Step 4. Check the box "Also apply this template to all subfolders", press the "Apply" button, and click "OK".

Optimize the Downloads Folder for General Items

It may take a few minutes for this change to be applied to the Downloads folder and all of its contents. Afterward, check if the folder is still inaccessible.

Fix 4. Change View Settings

This next fix will come as a surprise for most users. Whenever a Windows user opens a folder, every file's preview/thumbnail within the folder will be loaded. As a result, if even just one file has a corrupt thumbnail that doesn't load properly, you could be blocked from opening Downloads.

Although this sounds like an impossible way to repair the Downloads folder not working/inaccessible error in Windows 10, the solution is very easy.

Step 1. In the search bar, type "Folder Options" and click the "File Explorer Options" result.
Step 2. Go to the "View" tab and observe the "Advanced settings" section.

Change View Settings

Step 3. If the setting hasn't already been turned on, enable "Always show icons, never thumbnails" by checking the box next to it.
Step 4. Click "Apply" and "OK", then check whether or not the problem still occurs.

recover files deleted by virus from backup

tips Tip

Using this method will stop thumbnails from loading when you want to open the Downloads folder. Thus, if a corrupt thumbnail is at the root of the error, showing the icons instead will let you regain access to the folder.

Fix 5. Recover Deleted Downloads Folder with Software [Editor's Choice]

After trying these 4 fixes you'll either have fixed the issue or you still can't open the Downloads folder in Windows 10. But don't worry, there is at least one effective way left. What you can do is recover files from the inaccessible folder using a third-party data recovery tool: AnyRecover.

As a powerful program that specializes in data loss issues, AnyRecover can handle almost any data problems arising in various scenarios: emptied trash, accidental data deletion, partition error, system crash, corrupted or formatted device, etc. With it, you can retrieve data from the Downloads folder which is no longer accessible in an easy and fast way.

Key features of AnyRecover

Recover over 1000 types of files: photos, videos, audio, documents, emails, other media, and non-media files.
Get data back from any storage device as well as any location including the Downloads folder.
Easy to use data recovery software which helps to recover deleted downloads in only 3 simple steps.
Fast scanning and recovering speed; simple operating steps.
It can not only recover deleted download files but can also repair corrupted files.
Fully compatible with all versions of Windows systems, even the latest Windows 11 and ios 17.
Frial trial available: recover 8 files for free without size limitation.

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How to recover files from inaccessible Downloads folder with AnyRecover:

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fix Can't Open Downloads Folder in Windows 10

Step 1. Download AnyRecover, install it on your computer and launch the program. Choose the file location of your Downloads folder, and click "Start" to run the scanning process.

select location

Step 2. As the scan is running, you will be able to pause the scan, resume it later, or stop it completely. The remaining time will be displayed as well.

scan location

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Step 3. After the scan is done, browse all the files detected and preview the files that you want to recover. Then select what you want to get back and click "Recover" to retrieve the data.

preview and recover

tips Tip

This time you'd better choose a recovery location that is different from your Downloads folder.

Conclusion

When you first notice that you can't open Downloads in Windows 10, your best bet is to stop using your computer or at the very least, don't download anything else. This will significantly reduce the risk of data loss until the issue is resolved. The next thing to do is recover any files you don't want to lose. Taking the time to recover will reassure you that if any solution doesn't go well, valuable files aren't lost. AnyRecover provides users with an effortless way of restoring files that would otherwise be lost forever, and it's suitable for all data loss cases.

Key Features:

Supports recovering deleted/lost videos, photos, contacts, messages, WhatsApp/Kik/WeChat/Viber messages, and more files from 200+ devices;
You can repair data from Windows, Mac, and iPhone with this one-stop data recovery software;
Allows you to preview and selectively extract data from iTunes or iCloud backup files;
With high recovery rate at about 97.8%，higher than other softwares at the market;
Functions like repairing corrupted files, photo clarify and enhancement are available in the meanwhile.

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