{"id":24151,"date":"2018-09-10T10:37:19","date_gmt":"2018-09-10T10:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=24151"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:06:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T09:06:55","slug":"how-to-fix-windows-10-error-this-folder-is-empty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/solved-windows10-error-folder-is-empty\/","title":{"rendered":"[Solved] Windows 10 Error: This Folder is Empty"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a common Windows error, which a few users have experienced, where your USB or external drive containing files and folders displays an error ‘This folder is empty’<\/strong> in Windows 7 & Windows 10 when you try to open it. Despite having all the files and folders, your Windows PC warns you that the selected drive is empty.<\/p>

The error occurs due to several reasons such as virus or malware infection, damaged device drivers, hardware issue, file system corruption, and a few other common issues.<\/p>

It is a scary situation especially when your portable media contains crucial files and business-related critical data. Nevertheless, you need not worry, as we will help you fix this common issue within a few minutes. All you have to do is stay calm [very important] and do not try to experiment with various software as it can lead to further damage and permanent data loss.<\/p>

Methods to Fix the Windows 10 Error: This Folder is Empty<\/strong><\/h2>

Here are a few troubleshooting techniques that can help you fix the issue where system shows folder empty but contains files in Windows 10:<\/p>

1. Try Different Port<\/strong><\/p>

You might have already tried this but if you did not, consider swapping the storage device to a different USB port. Changing port will help you find out if the USB port, to which your external drive is connected, is faulty. In case the error still appears after changing the port, proceed to the next troubleshooting method.<\/p>

2. Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows to Scan and Restore Files from a USB Drive<\/strong><\/p>

When none of the above-mentioned troubleshooting techniques works, rely on a trusted data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

The drive could have a damaged File System or a corrupt file that might be causing the error. To fix it, you need to format the drive after performing data recovery to avoid permanent data loss.<\/p>

The software will help you retrieve inaccessible and lost data from your external drive that shows error ‘This folder is empty’ in Windows 10 and Windows 7.<\/p>

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