Sometimes you are annoyed with the problem when you can’t open downloaded files and fail to get access to the downloaded folders or files in the download section.
The Windows may create thumbnails for the photos and videos even when your files may not contain these.
Another reason may be the corrupted system files or the bad sectors that prevent you to get access to your downloaded files or folders.
What Hinders You To Open Downloaded Files?
You can get access when you can’t open downloaded files by changing the USB port. Firstly, run the SFC scan and then chkdsk scan to manually fix the problem.
You can also choose to run the system restore for repairing the bad sectors. Removing files from the downloads is also an effective method to check the problem.
There are other options to find a solution to the can’t open downloads issue that we are going to discuss:
Solution 1: Running SFC Scan
When your download folder not responding run a System File Scan. Some corruption in the system files may create the problem and once you scan it you will be able to fix the problem.
You can take help of the Command Prompt and by using the SFC utility you can fix the problem.
To execute the process, I am describing the steps below. Please follow these steps to commence the procedure successfully:
Step 1: First of all, run Command Prompt as an administrator and open the SFC utility by pressing Windows Key and X hotkey.
Step 2: Now enter DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and then hit the Enter button. You must do this before initiating the SFC scan.
Step 3: In Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow, and hit the Return Key. Wait till the scan gets completed. It may take thirty minutes to accomplish the entire process.
Step 4: After finishing the scan, give your Windows a fresh restart and check whether the step has repaired the corrupted files.
Solution 2: Restoring The Windows System
Another fix you can try is restoring the Windows system. This will help you fix downloads folder not responding issue.
Sometimes this problem may arise if you have updated Windows and the features may break or get back to the previous version. To execute the steps, there must be Restore Point.
Sometimes the system creates the Restore Point for some updates. Make sure you need to create a reliable restore point. Follow the given steps to commence the task:
Step 1: Go to the Control Panel and then from the options, select Create A Restore Point.
Step 2: When you are in the System Protection tab, choose C Drive. Choose to Configure and then make sure that Turn on System Protection is on the active mode.
Step 3: Hit the Apply button followed by OK. Revert to System Properties and select the System Restore option.
Step 4: Now you will get to see many restore points. Choose the recent available one.
Step 5: Follow the instructions provided on screen to accomplish the task properly.
This way only the system files will get restored and it will not harm your personal files and this way your personal data will not get lost.
Solution 3 Selecting Always Show Icons
When there are corrupted thumbnail images, you may encounter the downloads folder not responding issue.
Making some configuration in the Explorer to show icons when you click its File tab or select the Change folder.
For this follow the simple steps to accomplish the workaround:
Step 1: Select the File Explorer and go to the View tab and then choose the Always show icons.
Step 2: Now press the Never Thumbnails option and then hit the Apply button.
Step 3: After you have finished the above steps, click the OK button and exit the Folder Options Window.
Solution 4: Optimizing Downloads Folder For General Items
For your videos, music’s or images folder discovery is a good option but it is not great for your download directory. This is because the Folder Discovery includes specific type of file whereas the Downloads directory consists of various kinds of files.
The folder discovery may slow down the loading time of the download folder. You will not get an option in the File Explorer to disable the Folder Discovery.
You can choose to optimize the downloads for general items to resolve the issue.
Follow the below mentioned steps to adjust the Folder Discovery settings:
Step 1: Go to the File Explorer from the Taskbar and right-click on the Downloads Directory and then choose its Properties.
Step 2: Now check for and press to open the Customize Tab. Now, from the given menu, choose General Items.
Step 3: Now select the Also Apply This Template To All Subfolders checkbox and hit the Apply button and then press OK.
After that exit the window and check whether this has resolved the issue.
Solution 5: Repairing The Bad Sectors
Sometimes there may be some bad sectors or some corrupted system files. You need to remove those to find a solution to can’t open downloads problem.
For this I am giving you the steps in details. Follow the process carefully to accomplish the task:
Step 1: Select Windows and then press the X key and run Elevated Command Prompt.
Step 2: Then enter chkdsk (enter the drive letter for your system drive of the Downloads folder): /f /r /x and press the Enter button.
Step 3: Wait till the entire process gets completed. After that the checkdisk command will automatically repair and fix the bad sectors. Check whether this process check the issue.
Solution 6: Removing Files From Downloads
There are some files in the Downloads section may crash the Explorer when you open them. The process of opening the folder gets slower when they consist of lots of files.
When you delete some unnecessary files from the downloads, you can speed up the process and find a solution to those that are not opening.
Software installers may get included to your downloads folder, so just remove those immediately.
Closing Words
So, I hope by now, you are able to find out a suitable solution if got annoyed when the can’t open downloaded files!
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