Unable to open SharePoint Online document library in File Explorer

Introduction

SharePoint features a very useful function that enables users to open a document library as if it is a normal folder inside File Explorer. This would give the user access to normal file operations such as copy, move etc.

fileexplorer-english

Look and feel of Open with Explorer in SharePoint 2013 in English

fileexplorer-swedish

Look and feel of Öppna med Utforskaren in SharePoint 2010 in Swedish

Issue

When using Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 10 to open a document library the following error message appears and the library does not open in File Explorer:

fileexplorer-errormsg-english

We’re having a problem opening this location in File Explorer. Add this web site to your Trusted Sites list and try again.

A similar error message in Swedish:

fileexplorer-errormsg-swedish

Klienten har inte stöd för att öppna den här listan med Utforskaren.

Solution

Update: There is now a hotfix available at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2846960 that should solve the issue for Windows 7 and IE10.

Not really…

At the moment this is a known issue with Internet Explorer 10 in Windows 7. The suggestion from Microsoft is to de-install IE10 and use an earlier version. Another option would be to upgrade to Windows 8.

Unfortunately my current PC (HP EliteBook 8540w) does not support Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 9 isn’t really an option anymore.

Read more at the Microsoft support site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2835527

More supporting information here: How to use the “Open with Explorer” command and how to troubleshoot issues with this option in SharePoint Online – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2629108

This is posted as a follow up to my post on how to get explorer view to work in SharePoint 2010: https://www.stefanjohansson.org/2012/01/how-to-get-explorer-view-to-work-in-sharepoint-2010/ – obviously this won’t cut it in the above scenario.

10 thoughts on “Unable to open SharePoint Online document library in File Explorer

  1. Pingback: How to: Get Explorer View To Work In SharePoint 2010 | Stefan Johansson

  2. Ryan Elliott

    I have tried everything in this article, as well as others, in my attempt to get “Open with Explorer” to work correctly in our SharePoint 2013 environment, and nothing works.

    Reply
  3. Konnie

    Is there a fix for IE 11 and Windows 7? the IE10 hotfix has already been installed, but this did not fix the issue in IE11

    Reply
  4. Panoone

    Tried everything including the hotfix and some suggested registry changes. Still won’t work in IE10 on Windows 8 Pro.

    What’s crazy is that I can map a network drive and also use the Synch option successfully on the Document library ribbon.

    This is just ridiculous.

    Reply
  5. Stephen Moody

    Had a similar issue, and nothing I could find online was working. Eventually figured out that disabling Server Name Indication in the IIS bindings did the trick. Apparently the WebClient service doesn’t support that yet.

    Reply
  6. joun

    I think the Desktop experience feature is not installed and web client service might be not started so try to follow this
    •Open Server Manager –> Manage –> Add Roles and Features. Select Features form the left step navigation –> User Interfaces and Infrastructure –> Desktop Experience. Click Next then Install. Restart Server. Go to Services by clicking Run –> Services.msc –> Start WebClient Service. Go back to your document library it’s should be working. Ref : https://mohamedelkassas.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/were-having-a-problem-opening-this-location-in-file-explorer-add-this-web-site-to-your-trusted-sites-list-and-try-again/

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *