File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer) is the default file manager in Windows, but it can do much more. The Explorer.exe process is responsible for displaying the user interface such as the Start menu, desktop icons, etc. If Explorer crashes, your computer experience will not be pleasant.

If you don’t know why File Explorer is crashing, try the following methods to fix the problem:

Method 1: Clear File Explorer history

It is rare for users to clear their File Explorer history. Prolonged use of File Explorer causes a buildup of files that may cause the tool to crash.

To clear Explorer history, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type “File Explorer Options”
2. Click on “File Explorer Options” and go to the tab General
   
3. Find the section Privacy and click the button Clear
   

Method 2: Launch System File Checker

If your File Explorer keeps crashing, a file may be damaged or missing. To check whether this is the case and resolve any issues, run a system file check using System File Checker. You need to use Windows PowerShell for this. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and click “Windows Powershell (Admin)”
   
2. In the PowerShell window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter
   

By following these steps, the system will scan your computer for errors. If it finds any, Windows will repair and replace the files, which should resolve the File Explorer freeze.

Method 3: Update Windows

If your Windows system is out of date and File Explorer keeps crashing, the solution may be below.

To check for an update:

1. Right click Start menu and click Settings
2. go to Updates and security and click Windows update
   
3. If you see many pending updates, click Installation. If there’s nothing, you can manually check for anything new by clicking Check for updates
   

If updates are available, Windows will download them. Restart your computer to install them.

Method 4: Disable external add-ons

External add-ons can sometimes cause Explorer to crash.

You may ask: what external add-ons for Explorer?

These are items that make your daily work with your computer easier: for example, when 7-zip is installed, when you right-click on a file a new option will appear that allows you to compress the file immediately, without run 7-zip. application.

If a third-party add-on becomes unstable, it may block the explorer.exe process

To fix this problem, you need to disable add-ons using the special ShellExView application.

1. Download the ShellExView app
2. After installation, run the application to scan your computer. To ensure that only external add-ons are displayed, go to Options->Hide Microsoft Add-ins
3. Once the scan is complete, select all add-ons, right-click and select “Disable selected”

Method 5: Separate File Explorer processes

File Explorer runs as a single system process on your computer. Every time you open a new window, it runs in the same system process. If your computer is slower, it may cause stability issues and in rare cases File Explorer may crash.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and click File -> Options
   
2. In the new window, go to the tab Visualization
3. In the Advanced section, select “Run folder windows in separate processes.”
   

Click OK to save and apply the new settings.

This method will prevent the entire File Explorer from freezing.

Method 6: Scan your computer for viruses

If your File Explorer keeps crashing, it is possible that your computer is infected with viruses. Using an infected computer is dangerous and can cause instability.

You can run a scan using Windows tools:

1. Right-click Start menu and select Run
   
2. Type windowsdefender and press OK
   
3. In Windows Security, go to Protection from viruses and threats and press Scan
   
4. Select Microsoft Defender Offline Scan and press Scan
   

After these steps, Windows will restart and begin scanning your computer for viruses. If viruses are detected, Windows will attempt to remove or quarantine them. This should improve the stability of your computer and allow you to use it safely.

Method 7: Check the Windows registry for errors

If the above methods do not solve the File Explorer freezing issue, you will need to find out the specific reasons why it is crashing.

You can search the Windows error log for information.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Start menu and select Run
   
2. In the new window, type eventvwr and press OK.
   
3. In the menu on the left “Event Viewer” click on Windows Logs -> Application
   
4. In the Apps panel on the right, look for an event ID with a value of 1000. This ID typically leads to File Explorer errors
   
5. If you find such errors, select one and look at the General tab below. There you will find some information about the causes of the error. With this information, you can proceed to further search for information and solutions to your problem

For example, if the cause of File Explorer crashing is an external application, it will be listed here and you can remove it to fix the problem.

Summary

We hope the above methods have helped resolve your File Explorer issues. If the problem persists, you will probably need to seek professional help or reinstall your Windows system.

Post views: 2 365