What Causes Windows Explorer To Stop Working?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You may be using an

outdated or corrupted video driver

.

System files on your PC

may be corrupt or mismatched with other files. You may have a Virus or Malware infection on your PC. Some applications or services running on your PC may be causing Windows Explorer to stop working.

Why is explorer.exe not working?

If your explorer.exe file is not loading whenever you start your computer, this may

signify file corruption

, a system error or the presence of a virus. … These tools are accessible by any user with administrator privileges, so you may need to check with system administrator before making any change.

How do I make Windows Explorer run again?

Just press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Click the File menu and then choose “Run new task” in Windows 8 or 10 (or “Create new task” in Windows 7).

Type “explorer.exe” into

the run box and hit “OK” to relaunch Windows Explorer.

What happens when you end Windows Explorer?

But what happens if you end Windows Explorer in the Task Manager? As it turns out,

terminating Windows Explorer will not only close any open File Explorer windows

, but it will also render the Start menu, Taskbar, and System Tray unusable.

How do I fix Windows Explorer not responding?

  1. Modify Your PC’s Display Layout.
  2. Kill and Restart the File Explorer. …
  3. Check for Corrupt System Files.
  4. Clear File Explorer History.
  5. Update Your PC’s Video Driver.
  6. Update Your PC’s Operating System.
  7. Scan Your PC for Viruses and Malware.
  8. Check for Memory Problems.

How do I restart Explorer without task manager?

All you need to do is open start menu and

press and hold Ctrl+Shift keys

. While the keys are held, right click on any blank area (where there are no options to process) and you will see the option of “Exit Explorer”.

How do I restart Explorer EXE?

  1. Open Task Manager. If you right-click on the task bar at the bottom of the screen, Task Manager should appear as an option. …
  2. In Task Manager, click on the field labeled “Windows Explorer.” …
  3. In the bottom right corner of Task Manager, click the button labeled “Restart.”

Is it safe to close Explorer EXE?


It is “safe” to end it

. Task manager has a special option “Restart” that may be preferable. Explorer.exe handles your explorer windows as well as your taskbar/start menu systems as well as general file browser. … Running it again should restore everything and your start menu will simply appear back the way it was before.

What happens if you delete Explorer EXE?

At best killing explorer.exe

will close your file browser windows

, at worst it will close your taskbar as well. If when you kill Explorer your taskbar goes away then you can simply run explorer again from the Task Manager manu or Win + R .

Can I disable Windows Explorer?

To disable Internet Explorer, click

the Start menu and type “control panel” in

the search box. Then, click Control Panel in the results. (If you’re using Windows 7, you can just click the Start menu button and then click the “Control Panel” button.) … To continue disabling Internet Explorer, click “Yes”.

Why do I have to constantly restart Windows Explorer?

Run the System File Checker (SFC)

If you’re getting Windows Explorer needs to be restarted error on your PC, you might be able to fix it by

performing an SFC scan

. … To do this, press the Win key + X shortcut key and select Command Prompt (Admin). After opening the Command Prompt, you need to run the SFC command.

Why do my folders keep not responding?

The most effective method to fix Windows Explorer not responding is

to clear file explorer history

. You can open on Control Panel, set view by large icons and click File Explorer Options from the interface. Then click Clear button and OK to clear Windows Explorer history. Then try opening Windows Explorer again.

How do I refresh my taskbar?

To do it, right-click

on the taskbar and select Task Manager

from the options. It will open the Task Manager. In the Processes tab select Windows Explorer and click on the Restart button at the bottom of the Task Manager window. Windows Explorer along with the taskbar will restart.

What happens when you end task system?

A feature in the Microsoft Windows Task Manager under the Applications tab that allows the user to close any responding or not responding program. End task can be used

when a program is not responding or has frozen and allows the user to quit a non-responding program without having to restart Windows

.

Why does explorer.exe keep popping up?

And the reason for “File Explorer keeps popping up” is that

your external drive has a loose connection

. And it keeps disconnecting/connecting, which forces your system to open File Explorer constantly. Open the Control Panel and choose AutoPlay. Uncheck the option “Use AutoPlay for all media and devices”.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.