(j) PwC Consent

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Vanguard Explorer Fund of our report dated December 19, 2023, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appears in Vanguard Explorer Fund’s Annual Report on Form N-CSR for the year ended October 31, 2023. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Statements”, “Service Providers—Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Financial Highlights” in such Registration Statement.