In Windows 10 x64, sometimes when I double-click a folder in Windows Explorer, it opens Visual Studio instead of opening the folder. However, this doesn’t happen consistently and it’s not specific to any particular folder.
The issue usually occurs in the following way: I am working in Windows Explorer and when I double-click a folder, an error message appears saying “An internal error occurred”. If I double-click the folder again, nothing happens. However, if I click off the folder and then click back on it, I can usually open it.
Additionally, if I right-click on the same folder several times in a row, the context menu changes each time.
Sometimes the default action for the folder is 7Zip, other times it’s Visual Studio, and other times there is no default action and just copy and paste options in the context menu.
2 Answers
Introduction
Have you ever encountered a situation where double-clicking a folder in Windows Explorer launches Visual Studio instead of opening the folder? This issue can be frustrating, especially if you are in the middle of a project and need to access a specific folder quickly. This blog post will explore the possible causes of this problem and provide solutions to fix it.
Corrupted Registry Entries
One possible reason for folders opening in Visual Studio instead of Windows Explorer could be corrupted registry entries. The registry is a database that stores configuration settings for Windows and its applications. Corrupted registry entries can cause various issues, including this one. To fix this problem, you can try to repair the registry using the Windows Registry Editor. Follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshell
4. Right-click on the “shell” key and select “Export” to create a backup.
5. Delete the “shell” key by right-clicking on it and selecting “Delete”.
6. Restart your computer and try double-clicking a folder again.
If this solution doesn’t work, you can try restoring the backup you created in step 4.
File Association Errors
Another possible reason for folders opening in Visual Studio could be file association errors. File associations determine which program opens a file when you double-click it. If the file association for folders is set to Visual Studio, then double-clicking a folder will launch Visual Studio instead of opening the folder. To fix this problem, you can reset the file associations for folders. Follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “control panel” and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. Click on “Default Programs” and then select “Set Associations”.
4. Scroll down and select “.folder” from the list of file types.
5. Click on the “Change program” button and select “Windows Explorer”.
6. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Now try double-clicking a folder again, and it should open in Windows Explorer.
Third-Party Software Interference
Sometimes, third-party software can interfere with the default behavior of Windows Explorer. For example, if you have a file manager application installed, it may have taken over the default file association for folders, causing them to open in that application instead of Windows Explorer. To fix this problem, you can try uninstalling any third-party software that may be interfering with Windows Explorer. Follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open the Programs and Features window.
3. Scroll down and select the third-party software that you suspect is causing the problem.
4. Click on “Uninstall” and follow the prompts to uninstall the software.
5. Restart your computer and try double-clicking a folder again.
If this solution doesn’t work, you can try disabling any third-party shell extensions that may be interfering with Windows Explorer. Follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “shell:extensions” and press Enter to open the Shell Extensions window.
3. Disable any third-party shell extensions by right-clicking on them and selecting “Disable”.
4. Restart your computer and try double-clicking a folder again.
Malware Infection
Malware infections can cause all sorts of problems on your computer, including file association errors. If your computer is infected with malware, it may have changed the file association for folders, causing them to open in Visual Studio instead of Windows Explorer. To fix this problem, you should run a full system scan using your antivirus software. If your antivirus software detects any malware, follow the prompts to remove it. Once the malware is removed, restart your computer and try double-clicking a folder again.
Conclusion
Folders opening in Visual Studio instead of Windows Explorer can be a frustrating problem, but it can be fixed. The solutions discussed in this blog post include repairing corrupted registry entries, resetting file associations, uninstalling third-party software, disabling third-party shell extensions, and removing malware. Try these solutions one by one, and hopefully, one of them will fix the problem for you. If you have any questions or other solutions to this problem, please share them in the comments below.
Code Gorilla’s comment provided a solution to my problem, which I found to be effective and safer than tinkering with the registry. Therefore, I believe it deserves to be promoted from a mere comment to a complete answer.
I have the same issue, but I have found that restarting explorer cures the issue for a while. It seems to be worst when the machine has been running for a week. or more. – Code Gorilla Aug 19 ’19 at 9:59
I use Java and Eclipse to develop on a virtual machine, and I’ve recently encountered a peculiar issue that has led me to seek help. Although Visual Studio is installed on my virtual machine, I have never intentionally used it.
While using an explorer window for testing, I noticed that Visual Studio would launch unexpectedly whenever I attempted to open a folder by double-clicking it. This went on for about a week until I restarted the explorer, which resolved the problem.