How To Disable File Explorer in Windows 11 & 10

Don’t want to use File Explorer? Learn the simplest way to disable File Explorer in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

File Explorer is the built-in file manager in both Windows 11 & 10. By default, this app is how you manage all your files and folders in the system. However, there might be times when you need to disable File Explorer so that no one on your system can open it. For example, maybe it’s a public or restricted computer, and you don’t want users accessing files. Or, maybe you are using an alternative file management app such as Files App, Directory Opus, Total Commander, etc., and no longer need File Explorer.

Whatever your specific reason is, if you no longer need File Explorer accessible, you can disable it with a simple registry edit. In this tutorial, I will show you how to do it in simple steps. Let’s get started.

Before You Start

• Administrator rights are required to follow the steps below to disable File Explorer.
• Before proceeding, please back up your registry.
• Important: Create a system restore point. It helps you restore the File Explorer functionality. If you don’t create a system restore point, you’ll have to reset your system to make File Explorer work again.

Steps to Disable File Explorer in Windows 11 & 10

1. Press the “Windows key” to open the Start menu.
2. Search for “Registry Editor” and click “Open“.
3. Go to the following folder in the registry editor. Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
4. Right-click the “Explorer” folder on the left sidebar.
5. Select “New” > “Key“.
6. Set the folder name as “AllowedNavigation“.
7. Right-click the “AllowedNavigation” folder.
8. Select “Permissions“.
9. Click the “Advanced” button.
10. Click the “Change” option.
11. Type “System” in the blank field and click “Check Names“.
12. Click “OK“.
13. Select the “Replace owner and subcontainers and objects” checkbox.
14. Click the “Disable Inheritance” button.
15. Click the “Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions on this object” option.
16. Under the “Permissions entries” section, select each entry other than “SYSTEM” and click “Remove“.
17. Once done, you should only have “SYSTEM” under the “Permissions entries” section.
18. Click the “OK” button.
19. Click “OK” in the permissions error dialog box.
20. Close the Registry Editor.
21. With that, you’ve disabled the File Explorer. It will not open.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, we must open the Registry Editor. To do that, open the Start menu by pressing the “Windows key”, search for “Registry Editor”, and click “Open”.

Once the Registry Editor opens, go to the following folder on the left sidebar.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Now, right-click the “Explorer” folder and select the “New” and then “Key” option.

Set the folder name as “AllowedNavigation“.

Now, right-click the “AllowedNavigation” folder on the left panel and select the “Permissions” option.

Click the “Advanced” button at the bottom of the “Permissions for AllowedNavigation” window.

In the Advanced Permissions window, we first need to change the owner of the registry key. To do that, click the “Change” option.

Next, type “System” in the blank field, click the “Check Names” button, and click “OK“.

Select the “Replace owner and subcontainers and objects” checkbox.

Next, click the “Disable Inheritance” button at he bottom of the Advanced Permissions window.

In the “Block Inheritance” dialog, click the “Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions on this object” option.

Now, select each user other than “SYSTEM” under the “Permission entries” section and click the “Remove” button to remove them from the permissions list.

Once done, you should only have the “SYSTEM” user under the “Permission entries” section. Click the “OK” button to continue.

Click “OK” in the “Permissions for AllowedNavigation” window.

Click “OK” in the “Error Opening Key” dialog.

Finally, close the Registry Editor window, and you are done. From now on, File Explorer will not open, no matter how you try to open it.

Wrapping Up — Disabling File Explorer in Windows

As you can see, while you have to make some advanced changes permissions of the registry key, when you want to disable File Explorer, no matter what, you can do it by following the above steps. If you ever want to re-enable File Explorer, you will need to use System Restore to revert your system to a state before you made the registry change. If you didn’t create the system restore point before making the registry change or deleted the restore point, you have no other choice but to reset Windows.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.