How to Fix Explorer Class Not Registered Error on Windows 10

One of the errors that Windows users may receive when using basic Windows functions is “class not registered.” This error can happen to anyone using the Start button, opening internet browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, opening File explorer, or even launching programs on your computer. Getting this error can also be annoying as it will hinder you from using your system normally. 

Explorer class not registered error can be confusing as it does not provide much information about what exactly went wrong. It also does not give any error code. So, in this article, we will explain the error and show the different troubleshooting steps you can follow to fix explorer.exe class not registered on Windows 10. 

What Is Explorer.Exe Class Not Registered Error on Windows 10?

Many users who have encountered this error have no idea what it exactly means. All they know is that it hinders them from launching any applications connected with explorer.exe, including Edge, Windows Explorer, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and even the Start Menu.

Class not registered error usually occurs when the system files of explorer.exe have problems with their configuration or are corrupted. In some scenarios, users have reported that their files got corrupted because of virus/malware, and their antivirus software has deleted the virus-infected files and some system files which have caused the error. 

How to Fix Explorer Class Not Registered Error on Windows 10

Since the cause of this error is still unknown to many, there are various troubleshooting ways you can try to fix it. Here are some of them: 

Restart Windows Explorer

In most cases, restarting your windows explorer can fix this error. This process will reset the configuration of the process. Here’s how to do it: 

1. Open Task Manager. You can do this by pressing and holding the Control + Alt + Delete button on your keyboard. Choose Task Manager. Alternatively, you can press Windows + R key to open Run and type taskmgr.

2. At the top part of the Task Manager, click Processes. Look for Windows Explorer in the list and click it. Next, click on the Restart button found at the bottom left side of the window. 

Disable Internet Explorer 11

Note:  This method will require administrator access, and your computer might take some time on your next boot in initializing some services. Just be patient and let Windows do the work. 

1. Open Control Panel. You can do so by typing Control Panel on Windows search.

2. On the Control Panel, select the option View by Large Icons found on the top-right part of the screen. 

3. Next, click Programs and Features.

4. Then, select the Turn Windows features on or off option found on the top-left side of the window. A new window will pop up.

5. On the popup window, uncheck the feature Internet Explorer 11. Another pop-up window will ask you to confirm your actions, click Ok, and restart your computer. 

Windows will take longer to boot, but this is normal. No need to do anything; just wait for the process to finish. 

Additional note: This process might also require you to perform a quick update. Make sure that you are connected to the internet. 

Run System File Checker

The System File Checker (SFC) is a utility available in Windows which enables users to scan their computers for any corrupt files in their operating system. This tool was first introduced in Windows 98 and was carried over to the following systems. It can help diagnose the problem and check whether the problem came from corrupted files. Follow the steps below to run SFC: 

1. Launch Task Manager. To do this, open Run by pressing and holding Windows + R key and type taskmgr. You can also open it using the Control + Alt + Delete button. 

2. Click on the File option found on the menu located on the top-left side of the screen. Then, select Run new task.

3. In the dialogue box, type PowerShell and make sure that you check the option underneath that says “Create this task with administrative privileges.”

4. After you’ve launched Windows PowerShell, type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter. This may take some time as Windows will scan all the files in your computer and check for any corrupt files and phases. 

Note: If there’s an error during the scanning process that says that it found some error but could not fix the problems, you can manually troubleshoot them by typing DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in the PowerShell. This command will download all the corrupted files from the Windows update servers and will replace them. This process will take a while, depending on your internet connection. So, do not cancel at any stage and let the process finish. 

Install The Latest Windows Updates

Windows usually release essential updates that target bugs in your OS and fix them. Unfortunately, many users hold back from updating their system, which can be harmful. If you haven’t updated your system in a while, this might be the reason why you’re getting the explorer class not registered error. Here’s how you can update your system: 

1. Launch the start menu’s search bar by pressing and holding the Windows + S key.
2. In the search bar’s dialogue box, type Windows Update. 

3. On the update settings, click the Check for updates button. Windows will now check for any updates and will automatically install them. You may be asked to restart your computer. After the restart, check if the issue is fixed. 

Re-register The ExplorereFrame.dll File

Explorerframe.dll file contains various resources that are found in explorer.exe. If this file is not registered, usually because of a software glitch or gets corrupted, your explorer.exe will encounter an error. If this is the problem, re-registering the ExplorerFrame.dll may solve this issue. Here’s how: 

1. Press and hold the Windows + S key to launch the search bar. Type Command Prompt.

2. On the search result, right-click Command Prompt and click Run as Administrator.

3. On the UAD, click Yes to run Command Prompt as an administrator. 
4. In the Command Prompt, type regsvr32 ExplorerFrame.dll and press Enter.

5. Restart your system and check if the explorer.exe class not registered error is fixed. 

There are many reasons why the explorer “class not registered” error occurs on Windows 10. This is why there are various troubleshooting methods available to address this concern. Whatever the cause is, it is best to learn the different ways to fix this issue so the error won’t interfere with your daily tasks.