Classic Explorer Bar option missing

[anandpjain55]

Describe the bug

After Windows 11 Insider 25H2 Build 26220 (7070), Classic Explorer Bar Option is missing. Now I am not up-datings Windows 11. I am using 4.4.196

Area of issue

Windows Explorer

To reproduce

Expected behavior

No response

Open-Shell version

4.4.196

Windows version

Windows 11 25H2 Build 26220

Additional context

No response

[Philipdp13]

I have this issue too - Windows 11 25H2 25H2 v 26200.7309 (KB5070311). I have uninstalled and reinstalled the update and can confirm the above issue exists

UPDATE - I have just tried installing the latest Windows update: 2025-11 Preview Update (KB5070311) (26200.7309) - and the problem is still there

I've also tried the "Inetcpl.cpl" solution below but to no effect.

Regards

Philip

[Paulaob79]

I also have this bug on Windows 11 Pro 26200.7309

I uninstalled, reboot and reinstalled Open-Shell 4.4.196 and still have the bug.

[torstendlp]

Same problem here. Uninstalled, reinstalled, checked registry etc. all didn't help.
The Open Shell Toolbar ist gone and the setting to activate it, too.

[PhiliP190]

Idem. W11 pro.
running Open Shell version 4_4_197-yjywhhhy

[kalman7g]

I lost Classic Explorer Bar on 1 of my 2 computers, Removed, reinstalled, also checked Managed Add-ons for IE and the options are still listed and enabled.
Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.7309

[antonin730]

Je rencontre également ce bug sous Windows 11 Pro 26200.7309.

J'ai désinstallé, redémarré et réinstallé Open-Shell 4.4.196 et le problème persiste.

Le problème vient de la mis a jour kb5070311,il faut la désinstaller et classic explorer refonctionne.

[PhiliP190]

Last version OpenShellSetup_4_4_197-yulsgqmy doesn't resolve the problem for me.

[Jamesstevens-3rd]

if the command to enable Classic Explorer Bar is missing try this

run Inetcpl.cpl

go to Programs tab and Manage add-ons, there you should see the two components needed; enable both

Classic Explorer Bar and ExplorerBHO Class

[Paulaob79]

if the command to enable Classic Explorer Bar is missing try this

run Inetcpl.cpl

go to Programs tab and Manage add-ons, there you should see the two components needed; enable both

Classic Explorer Bar and ExplorerBHO Class

It worked!!!

Now the Classic Explorer Bar is back. Thank you very much. :)

[trask9727-bit]

I have this problem too. I tried the Inetcpl.cpl method, no difference. Version 26200.7309. I think it's an update (or updates) that's doing this.

[PhiliP190]

if the command to enable Classic Explorer Bar is missing try this

run Inetcpl.cpl

go to Programs tab and Manage add-ons, there you should see the two components needed; enable both

Classic Explorer Bar and ExplorerBHO Class

Hello,

ExplorerBHO Class was inactive so i enabled it, but no result, i cannot see the option in the "option" menu in the Explorer

Windows is V26200.7462

and classic shell is OpenShellSetup_4_4_197-bisesytn version

I do not want to uninstall windows updates

It's true that a recent update (windws) made some dialog boxes black where they were still white in dark mode.

[PhiliP190]

if the command to enable Classic Explorer Bar is missing try this
run Inetcpl.cpl
go to Programs tab and Manage add-ons, there you should see the two components needed; enable both
Classic Explorer Bar and ExplorerBHO Class

Hello,
ExplorerBHO Class was inactive so i enabled it, but no result, i cannot see the option in the "option" menu in the Explorer
Windows is V26200.7462
and classic shell is OpenShellSetup_4_4_197-bisesytn version
I do not want to uninstall windows updates
It's true that a recent update (windws) made some dialog boxes black where they were still white in dark mode.

Correction. Wasn't ExplorerBHO Class that wasn't inactive. That was active.

It was Classic explorer bar that wasn't anymore and that i made active.

Thanks for the quote that questioned me. and realize i didn't meaned what i was writing.

[torstendlp]

Both are active here, but it doesn't help solve the problem

[Jamesstevens-3rd]

Both are active here, but it doesn't help solve the problem

I have had issues getting the commands to display on windows 11 24H2 and from what I can remember this is what I did to fix it... I think

1 run C:\Program Files\Open-Shell\ClassicExplorerSettings.exe

2 click Backup and Reset all settings then OK

3 disable the two settings in Inetcpl.cpl then restart explorer or reset your computer

4 do #3 but enable the two settings and restart

5 start menu > settings > control panel and R+Click and check Classic Explorer Bar entry

but tbh I’m not sure if this was the sequence of events, try playing around with them in different order, you could try with #2 to reset save then change some of the settings to see if that works

It might be worth updating Edge as this uses part of IE that we can no longer access