FIX: Explorer.exe class not registered in Windows 10

by Milan Stanojevic

Deputy Editor

Last update:March 16, 2021

Affiliate Disclosure

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We have all encountered an error on Windows 10, and speaking of errors, it seems that some users are having the Explorer.exe class not registered error.

As far as we know, this error can affect almost any software, and users have reported that Google Chrome isn’t working on Windows 10 due to this error.

Google Chrome isn’t the only software affected by this issue, so let’s fix Class not registered error on Windows 10.

Class not registered error message can cause various problems on your PC, and speaking of issues, many users reported the following problems as well:

• Class not registered error when opening pictures, videos – According to users, this error message can appear while trying to open pictures or videos
• Class not registered Windows 10 Photos – This error can appear on any version of Windows, and many users reported it while trying to run Photos app
• Class not registered explorer.exe, Excel, regsvr32, Taskbar, uTorrent, Internet Explorer, Outlook, Microsoft Edge, Windows Media Player – Many users reported this error message while trying to run various applications like Outlook, Edge, or Internet Explorer, but it can also appear while using Windows Explorer
• Class not registered PDF – In several cases, users reported this error while trying to open PDF files. This can be an issue, but you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions
• Class not registered msstdfmt.dll – DLL files can sometimes cause this issue, so be sure to remove the application associated with that DLL file and check if that solves the problem

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How to fix Class not registered error in Windows 10?

1. Disable iCloud

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to start Task Manager.
2. When Task Manager starts, find iCloud.
3. Right-click it and choose End Task.
   

Some reports show that this issue is caused by iCloud, and in order to fix it, you need to close iCloud with Task Manager and disable following the steps above.

1. Open Task Manager and go to the Startup tab.
   
2. Find iCould, right-click it, and choose Disable.
   

In addition, you can also disable iCloud from starting up by using Task Manager. If you want to know more about how to add or remove startup apps, take a look at this in-depth article.

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2. Re-register ExplorerFrame.dll file

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. To do that press Windows key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. When Command Prompt starts, paste the following code and press Enter to run it: regsvr32 ExplorerFrame.dll

If Internet Explorer keeps crashing while giving you the Class not registered error, you might need to open the Command Prompt and manage certain DLL files.

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3. Check your hard drive

• Hardware interface of SATA 6.0 Gb/s
• Generous space of 2000 GB 
• Fast speed of 220 Megabytes per second

• Not as fast as a SSD

Check price

In some rare cases, Class not registered error can be caused by a faulty hard drive, so make sure that your hard drive is working properly. Few users have reported that replacing their hard drives has fixed this issue for them.

That’s why we recommend you to use a high-quality hard drive, like the Seagate BarraCuda 2 TB, which provides 2000 GB of space along with a read-speed of 220 Megabytes per second.

This is a 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s HDD that also comes with a 7200 RPM that ensures a that your PC will run smoothly each time and a 256MB Cache of 3.5-Inch.

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In the market for the fastest hard drives around? Don’t waste another minute and get the best ones here.

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4. Use a great browser

When it comes to an issue like the Class not registered error on your browser, a great idea would for you to switch to an excellent search-engine.

We recpommend an established browser that comes with a built-in VPN which means that your online experience is safe from cyber threats.

In addition, you have some really fun extensions like the incorporated Messenger app. You also get your own news feed on the start page, as well as a snap-shot tool and sync data capabilities.

⇒ Get Opera browser

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5. Use Component Services

1. Press Windows Key + R and type the line below then press Enter or OK to run it. dcomcnfg
2. When the Component Services window opens, go to Component Services, then click Computers, then go to My Computer and double click DCOM Config..
3. You should get a few warning messages. If that happens, just click Yes.
4. Now close Component Services and restart your computer.
5. After doing that, this error message should stop appearing.

Most users have stated that modifying certain settings from the Component Services menu has solved the problem for them.

1. Go to the Settings app. You can open the Settings app quickly by using Windows Key + I shortcut.
2. When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Accounts section.
3. In the right pane, choose Family & other people from the menu on the left. In the right pane, click on Add someone else on this PC.
4. Enter your Microsoft account email and click Next.

Log out of your current account and switch to a new one. If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

If there’s no other way to fix Class not registered error on your Windows 10, you might want to create a new Microsoft account, so just take a look at the next solution.

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6. Create a new Microsoft account

1. Open Settings, then click Accounts.
2. Click Sign in with a local account instead. You’ll be asked to enter your password.
3. After doing that, you’ll have to enter the username and password for your local account.
4. Click Sign out and finish button. Now log back to your account.

You’ll have to enter the username and password for your local account as well. After you’ve switched to a local account, repeat the steps from the beginning of this solution.

We have to mention that this solution might not work unless you choose to sign in with a local account instead. To switch to the local account, follow the steps above.

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7. Set Microsoft Edge as the default browser

1. Press Windows Key + S and type control panel. Choose Control Panel from the list of results.
2. Control Panel window will now appear. Select Default Programs from the list.
3. When the Default Programs window opens, select Set your default programs.
4. Navigate to the Web browser section and click on your browser.
5. Select Microsoft Edge from the list.
6. Open the Settings app and go to the Apps section.
7. From the pane on the left select Default apps.
8. Go to the Web browser section set Internet Explorer as the default browser

After setting Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge as the default browser, the Class not registered explorer.exe problem should be completely resolved.

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8. Check if Internet Explorer ETW Collector Service is running

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Now enter services.msc and click OK.
2. In the list of services find Internet Explorer ETW Collector Service, right-click it, and choose Start.
3. Start Task Manager and go to the Details tab.
4. Find explorer.exe and right-click it. Choose End Task from the menu.
5. Now in Task Manager go to File, then click Run new task.
6. Create new task window will appear. Type explorer and click OK.

Class not registered error often affects Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, so if you’re having this problem with these browsers, try the instructions above.

After you complete this procedure, Explorer will start again, and everything should be working accordingly.

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9. Change default image viewer to Windows Photo Viewer

1. Find any picture on your computer and right-click it.
2. From the menu choose Open with, click Choose another app.
3. Select Windows Photo Viewer from the list. If you want to use only Windows Photo Viewer to view pictures, make sure that you select Always use this app to open .jpg files. Click OK to save changes.

If you don’t want to add any changes to your registry, you can simply download any free image viewing software, install it on your computer and repeat all steps starting from Step 2.

As we already mentioned Class not registered error can appear when you try to view .jpg files, and if this happens, you might want to set your default image viewer to Windows Photo Viewer.

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Need more info on how to use Windows Photo Viewer on Windows 10? Check out this article.

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10. Reset default apps

1. Open Settings, go to Apps, select Default apps.
2. Scroll down until you see Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults. Click the Reset button.
3. Open Settings, go to Apps, select Default apps.
4. Scroll down until you see Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults. Click the Reset button.

According to users, Class not registered error appears when they try to open a .jpg file on their computer, and this problem can be fixed by resetting default apps. To do that, follow these instructions:

If you can’t change the Windows default apps, check out this comprehensive article that will help you do just that.

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The Explorer.exe class not registered error can cause all sorts of problems on your computer, but we hope that our solutions have fixed this issue for you.

If you have any more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.