Tell me more ×
SharePoint Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for SharePoint enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 15 down vote favorite
4

I have full control over my SharePoint site. When I click on my document library and then click the "Library" tab on the ribbon, I see an option for "Open with Explorer" but it is disabled.

The message is vague and unhelpful:

You might not have the right permissions level to use this, you might need to select an object or item, or the control might not work in this context.

I want to be able to move documents from one folder in the library to another. This seems like an extremely minimal use-case for a document library, no? Yet it's seemingly impossible to do in the web UI.

UPDATE: I installed IE9 and enabled the WebClient service in services.msc and the Open with Explorer option is still disabled.

share|improve this question
Are you using a version of Internet Explorer? That option would be grayed out with Firefox, Chrome, etc. – mcnarya Jan 19 '12 at 21:28
What browser are you using? – Lori Jan 19 '12 at 21:29
I've tried IE8, Chrome, and FF. – Rob Sobers Jan 20 '12 at 0:56

5 Answers

up vote 22 down vote accepted

Solved. I was using 64-bit Internet Explorer. Switching to 32-bit IE caused the featured to become enabled. There was absolutely no indication in the application that this could possible be the cause. It was a shot in the dark.

Mind: blown.

The Plan Browser Support article on TechNet lists the supported browsers and limitations in "non- or partially supported browsers".

It states the following among the limitations for 64bit IE 7, 8 and 9:

Explorer view

Removed in SharePoint Foundation 2010. Libraries that have been upgraded from earlier versions of SharePoint Foundation 2010 may still have Explorer views and these may not work.

share|improve this answer
Accept this as the answer please! Had to read the entire thread before I found this (also the same issue) – Michael Jan 20 '12 at 2:24
@Michael StackExchange doesn't let you accept your own answer for 2 days. – Rob Sobers Jan 20 '12 at 4:26
+1 for sharing your solution – Falak Mahmood Jan 21 '12 at 4:42
+1 - defintely need to keep this in mind. – James Love Jan 21 '12 at 23:31
Note that this expands to other browsers as well, not just x64 version of IE... ex. It's also disabled in Chrome. – PedroC88 Nov 28 '12 at 16:22
up vote 2 down vote

Before trying it in IE could you please make sure that following service is started, by going:

Click Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

Open the Properties of the WebClient Service

choose as start type: automatic

start the service

share|improve this answer
OK, I just enabled this service. It was stopped and set to "Manual" out of the box. Crazy that this needs to be enabled. However, even after starting it and setting it to "Automatic", the option is still disabled in IE. – Rob Sobers Jan 20 '12 at 1:00
up vote 2 down vote

Also for me restarting the WebClient service (even though it was running already) fixed it

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

You have to be using Internet Explorer. That option is not available in other browsers. Are you running IE and it's not enabled? If so, what version.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

restarting the WebClient service (even though it was running already) fixed this for me

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.