Fix: “explorer.exe Class Not Registered” on Windows 11/10

Why Explorer.exe Class Not Registered Error Occurs?

Have you ever been using your computer and suddenly a weird error message “Explorer.exe class not registered” pops up on your screen?

This can be really frustrating, especially if you need to get work done and this error is preventing you from doing so.

This blog post will show you how to fix the Explorer.exe class not registered error in Windows 10 or Windows 11. So if you are experiencing this problem, stay tuned! We will help you get back to work in no time.

What Is the Class Not Registered Error?

The Explorer.exe class not registered error can be generated by various elements such as corrupted files or a faulty hard drive. You could switch your hard drive for a new one that comes with up to 7200 RPM.

According to the warning message, this problem indicates that system files linked with explorer.exe have become damaged or missing. In order to properly cover this, we must first understand how DLL files works in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What is a DLL file, and what does it do? A dynamic-link library (DLL) file, often known as a shared library, is required for all Windows programs to operate correctly. These files are extremely helpful to users since they may execute in less memory and can finish their tasks without having to be loaded simultaneously.

Windows components are no exception to this error. It can show up anytime and affect a variety of applications, starting from the Explorer exe file to the Windows photo app.

The following are some of the errors our users reported getting:

OneNote Class not registered
Xbox app Class not registered
Skype Class not registered
Explorer.exe Class not registered mail
Visual Studio Class not registered
Calculator Class not registered
Microsoft Office 365 Class not registered
Snipping tool Class not registered
Taskbar Class not registered
Settings Class not registered

A number of explorer.exe Class not registered Windows 10 fixed reports also mention that they got this error message after updating to a new version of Windows 10 or upgrading to Windows 11.

Luckily, you don't have to undo these changes. Simply follow the methods below to fix the error without having to give up your new OS!

Why Do I Get a Class Not Registered Error?

Why does the Explorer.exe Class Not Registered Error Occurr?

"Class not registered" in Windows is a problem usually encountered if the application you're trying to open has corrupted files.

This error occurs primarily because of files inside the application, but another leading cause can be corruption on your hard drive, or as a result of corrupted operating system files.

Some files are unregistered due to certain circumstances, such as possible malware or incorrect installation. It's available on Windows 10 and 11 that you run into the explorer.exe class not registered error, sometimes in Safe Mode as well.

At various times, Windows users may encounter the "Class not registered" error message on their computer. The issue might appear at any time during one of the following activities:

Opening any type of media file, such as images, videos, or audio files
Accessing a DLL file
Launching photo viewing applications including the default image viewer
Opening the Start menu
Launching Microsoft Office applications like Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Opening browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox
Opening third-party apps such as torrent downloaders,
Opening PDF files

The "Class not registered" message may appear if any of the above circumstances apply. We've put together the most effective troubleshooting methods necessary to resolve these problems and prevent future instances of the "Class not registered" error.

How to Fix Class Not Registered Error In Windows 10

There are a few solutions that you can try to fix the class not registered explorer.exe error on your Windows 10 computer. Let’s take a look at them now.

Method 1. Re-Register the ExplorerFrame.dll File

The explorerframe.dll is a module that is linked with the explorer.exe file. If this file becomes unregistered, it can cause problems with explorer.exe, which can lead to the class not registered error.

To re-register the explorerframe.dll file, do the following:

Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator. If you're using a local account that doesn't have administrator permissions, click here first.
When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: regsvr32 ExplorerFrame.dll

Method 2. Enable Component Services

Component Services is a tool that allows you to view and configure COM+ applications on your computer. This tool can be used to fix the class not registered explorer.exe error.

To do this, follow these steps:

Press Windows key + R, and then type in “dcomcnfg”. Press the Enter key or click on OK to run it.
When you open Component Services, navigate to Console Root > Component Services > Computers > My Computer.
Double-click on the DCOM Config folder.
You should receive a few alerts. If this happens, simply click Yes. Close the window and restart your computer. This message should no longer appear after you've completed this.

Method 3. Create a New User Account

If you are still getting the explorer.exe class not registered error, you can try creating a new user account. This is a bit of a hassle, but it can fix the problem if the explorer.exe error is caused by a corrupt user profile.

To create a new user account, do the following:

Click on the Start menu and choose Settings. You can alternatively use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut as well.
Click on the Accounts tile.
Switch to the Family & other users tab using the panel navigation on the left side.
Scroll down and click on the Add someone else to this PC button. The fastest way to create a new user for yourself is offline — we’ll be using this method to create the account.
Click on the I don't have this person's sign-in information link.
Next, click on the Add a user without a Microsoft account link.
Type in a username and optionally add a password with security questions, then click Next.

You should immediately see the new user created which you can use now. Switch to this user and see if you still experience the “explorer.exe Class not registered” error on the new user account.

If not, it’s highly likely that your current profile is corrupt. Switch to the new account entirely to remove this error with ease.

Method 4. Sign In With a Microsoft Account

If you are using a local account to sign in to Windows 10, you can try signing in with a Microsoft account. This has been known to fix the explorer.exe class not registered error.

To sign in with a Microsoft account, do the following:

Navigate to Settings > Account > Your info.
Click on the Sign in with a Microsoft account instead link. If you’re already using a Microsoft account, try signing out instead.
Enter your Microsoft account details, or create a new account to log in with and finish setting up your user account.

Method 5. Run the System File Checker and DISM Commands

If you are still getting the explorer.exe class not registered error, you can try running the System File Checker and DISM commands. These commands will scan your system for corrupt files and repair them if possible.

To run the System File Checker and DISM command, do the following:

Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
Input Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator. If you're using a local account that doesn't have administrator permissions, click here first.
When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your computer. In the case of a discrepancy, the utility will restore system files and fix all errors related to them.
Next, you need to execute a command to fix any issues found on your system. Simply type in the following line and press Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

After you execute the command, wait for the process to finish. Upon completion, close the Command Prompt window and restart your device to see if the “explorer.exe Class not registered” error has been fixed.

Method 6. Start the Internet Explorer ETW Collector Service

If you are still getting the explorer.exe class not registered error, you can try starting the Internet Explorer ETW Collector service. This service is required for some explorer.exe features to work properly.

To start the Internet Explorer ETW Collector service and restart the Windows Explorer, you need to use the Services window and Task Manager.

Do the following:

Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard at the same time to bring up the Run utility. Type in “services.msc” without the quotation marks, then hit the OK button. This is going to launch the Services in a separate window.
Scroll down until you locate Internet Explorer ETW Collector Service in the list of services. Right-click on it and choose Start from the context menu.
Next, open Task Manager. Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager from the context menu.
Switch to the Details tab and find the explorer.exe process, then right-click on it. Choose End Task from the context menu. This will close the Windows Explorer entirely.
After ending the process, you may notice your system changing, such as the taskbar disappearing. This is normal. To restart the Windows Explorer, click on File in the top-left corner and choose Run new task.
Type in “explorer” and hit the OK button.

The Windows Explorer will restart after you complete this procedure, and everything should work as expected.

Method 7. Reset Your Default Apps

If you are still getting the explorer.exe class not registered error, you can try resetting your default apps. This can fix the problem if the explorer.exe error is caused by a default app not working properly.

To reset your default apps, perform the following steps:

Press the Windows + S keys on your keyboard to bring up the search tool, then look for “PowerShell.”
Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results, then choose Run as administrator.
If prompted, click Yes to allow PowerShell to make changes on your device.
Once the application is open, copy and paste the following script into it, then press the Enter key on your keyboard to execute it:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
After the process of re-registering the Windows apps has finished, try using the Calculator app again.

Final Thoughts

That’s it: everything you need to know about the Explorer.exe Class Not Registered Error and why it occurs. Thanks for reading!

Now, we’d like to get it back to you.

If you have any questions left unanswered or problems not addressed, please feel free to reach out to our team of experts.

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