Fix Error “Documents.library-ms is no longer working” in Windows 7

When you double-click a library to view the contents, the following error may occur.

“<libraryname>.library-ms” is no longer working.

For example, the following error may occur when opening Documents library

“Documents.library-ms” is no longer working.
This library can be safely deleted from your computer. Folders that have been included will not be affected.

Similarly when opening the Music, Pictures or Videos library

“Music.library-ms” is no longer working.
“Pictures.library-ms” is no longer working.
“Videos.library-ms” is no longer working.

To fix this problem, open Windows Explorer, right-click on the corresponding library and choose Delete. Click Yes when asked for confirmation.



Note: Deleting a library does not delete the contents of the included folders. However, you may need to include your folders manually, if needed.

Then, in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer, right-click Libraries and click Restore default libraries.

This recreates the library that was deleted earlier. This option only restores the default libraries.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

93 thoughts on “Fix Error “Documents.library-ms is no longer working” in Windows 7”

  1. @Rick YEP! Same here, this is not a solution! And as I further search FOR a real solution this seems to be a growing problem with Windows 7

    Reply
  2. Thanks. I was getting fed up and saw this help. The windows 7 error is now fixed, although I do not know why I stopped working in the 1st place – ant Ideas?

    I rate this help 10/10

    Reply
  3. This does not work. When I restore the default libraries, I end up with the same dysfunctional libraries as before. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  4. Worked for me 🙂 Thanks so much! Was in a panic for a bit, just spent a week going through and organizing all our pics, videos, etc. and I just got this computer two weeks ago! The mouse keeps freezing to periodically

    Reply
  5. Thanks so much…when I called tech help for my 3 month old Toshiba, they claimed it was software problem…not covered by warranty and wanted to send me to a pay service to find my Library which was there one day…gone the next. I searched my computer, found my photos and documents and saved them in a new file (Library was so much easier). Then I came across this “fix” for my Windows 8. It was as easy as
    1-2-3. My Library is back and I think it is a crime that Toshiba wanted me to pay for such a simple fix. Thank you for the good works you are doing to help people like me, a retiree who cannot afford to buy that information from the Corporate tech people.

    Reply
  6. Thank you so much this kept happening to me every time it did I had to do a system restore, losing all my files. thank you so so so much.

    Reply
  7. Thanks a lot for the fix, but do you know how this could have happened, all of a sudden my Windows 8 laptop said it had ran into a problem. Then it happened.. This never happens on my Windows 7 computers. Can you tell me if it was a cause of a virus or just a small problem?

    Please reply back at my email!

    Reply
  8. This didn’t work for me. I deleted the libraries and then restored default and they came back in the same format. Anything else I can try ?

    Reply
  9. Does anyone have any good suggestions for restoring the 20 or so custom libraries that have just vanished from my Windows 8 installation? The default libraries appear unaffected, just the ones I made and use every day.

    Reply
  10. Oh my goodness, thank you so so much. Windows 8 = worked perfectly. I’ve been trying to fix this all night with my parents and no luck until now. Again thanks so much! 🙂

    Reply
  11. I have the same error except every time I try and right click the library, file explorer ends up (Not Responding) and closes. What do I do?

    Reply
  12. Worked! Thanks a million.. Thought I would have to do a system restore to recover the files. (I believed them to be corrupted)

    Reply
  13. Once I found out how to open Windows Explorer, the rest was easy. I deleted each library and then right clicked the “Library” in the left column, then clicked restore. Everything works now.

    Reply
  14. This did not work for me…just recreated the same WRONG “documents.library-ms”, “Music.library-ms”, “Pictures.library-ms”, “Videos.library-ms”

    Now listen…there HAS to be a fix for this. I have searched online and there are PLENTY of people with this problem and your little “restore” fix is useless.

    So, please…how is this Library issue resolved?

    Reply
  15. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I have literally spent an entire year going out of my mind because of this problem, only to read your solution and be able to fix it in 10 seconds. YOU ARE AMAZING, THANK YOU!!!!!!!! All my pictures and documents are available to me again!! So happy!!

    Reply
  16. Restored Library, Thanks BUT when I try to open any folder in any of the libraries I get a message “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program, create as association in Default Programs”.

    what do I do now?

    Reply
  17. THANKS !!! It worked … I was SO SCARED to click “delete” documents and pictures then “restore them again” …

    Reply

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