How To Repair Window Explorer Not Responding

Windows Explorer is your primary mode of navigating your system. It allows you to come across, access, and manage all the files residing on your device.

When Windows Explorer is not responding, frozen, or won't open, you will run into many frustrating bug while trying to utilize your reckoner.

We're hither to help you with this issue. This guide focuses on how y'all can fix the Windows Explorer not responding on a Windows 10 operating arrangement.

Annotation : Windows Explorer is as well referred to as File Explorer in newer operating systems. They mean the same thing, just run under a slightly different name.

What causes Windows Explorer non to respond to errors?

Sadly, there's no definite cause that could be the source of this rather annoying issue.

Based on user reports from the Windows 10 community, we tin determine multiple causes that may atomic number 82 to your Windows Explorer not responding, freezing, or not opening at all.

The File Explorer history needs to be cleared . In that location's a possibility that your File Explorer history is clogged and information technology'due south causing Windows Explorer to behave incorrectly. Immigration this should do the flim-flam. Yous can find out how to clear the File Explorer history beneath.
Your display settings were changed . Users report that changes to brandish settings such as the font size can cause Windows Explorer to break. If you've recently changed the settings or allowed an awarding to change them, reverting is the all-time selection.
The Windows 10 version you're using is out of date . Updating Windows is crucial. While it may bring some annoyances in the grade of new bugs, it too patches up many existing problems and security holes. If you're running an older version of Windows ten, don't dominion out the possibility of updating to the latest release.
There's no bachelor infinite on your system drive . If your organisation drive is full, Windows Explorer may not be able to function as intended. Make some space post-obit our tips beneath.
Something is incorrect with your system . Sometimes your organisation files can cause Windows Explorer to stop responding or opening. There are many general troubleshooting options listed beneath to help you fix system-level bug.

Fix: Windows Explorer not responding

We've identified most of the possible causes for this problem, and now it'south time to fix your Windows Explorer. Nosotros've compiled a great number of solutions to help you no matter what causes Windows Explorer to behave in a faulty style.

Method 1: Automatically restart the Windows Explorer in the Job Manager

The showtime thing to effort is restarting the Windows Explorer / File Explorer .

Here's how you can restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer with the Task Director in Windows 10:

Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and select the Task Manager .
If your Chore Manager launcher in compact mode, brand sure to click on More details .
Stay in the default Processes tab and click on Windows Explorer .
Click on the now visible Restart push button in the bottom-correct of the window.
Look for Windows Explorer to restart. Your taskbar, windows, and desktop will temporarily disappear — this is normal.
Bank check if you tin utilize Windows Explorer now.

Method 2: Manually restart Windows Explorer with the Command Prompt

Another method of restarting the Windows Explorer / File Explorer is using the Command Prompt . Sometimes an automated restart isn't the best fashion to go, which is why you can also utilise a command to become the job done.

This is how you tin can restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer using nothing simply the Command Prompt:

Printing the Windows + R keys to launch the Run awarding.
Type in " cmd " and printing Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch a Command Prompt with administrative permissions.
Input the following control to stop the Windows Explorer, and so printing Enter to execute the command:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

Next, input a control to restart Windows Explorer. Don't forget to printing enter after y'all blazon the command in!

outset explorer.exe

Close the Command Prompt and check if you lot can use Windows Explorer at present.

Method 3: Restart the explorer.exe procedure with a batch file

All the same, no luck restarting? No problem! At that place's one more than thing to attempt, which is creating a batch (.bat) file and running it with administrative permissions to finish and restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer.

Right-click on an empty infinite on your Desktop , then click on New → Text document .
Proper name the file Restart Explorer and open information technology with any notepad application.
Paste the following text into the document:
taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
get-go explorer.exe
exit
Go to File → Salve as .
Select " All Files " as the file blazon, then rename the text document to " Restart Explorer.bat " and click Save.
Go to your Desktop and right-click on the Restart Explorer.bat file, then select Run as administrator .
Check if you can use Windows Explorer now.

Tip : If you continue the batch file you lot but created, you can easily restart Windows Explorer using information technology any time!

Method 4: Clear the File Explorer history

As mentioned above, the Windows Explorer / File Explorer history may become chock-full and cause problems. Y'all tin easily set this past clearing the history.

Printing the Windows + R keys to launch the Run application. Type in "control" and hit the OK button.
Brand certain that your viewing mode is set to Big icons .
Click on File Explorer Options .
Click on the Clear button in the Privacy section.
Bank check if Windows Explorer works now.

Method five: Revert your display settings

In specific cases, users report that reverting their display settings to default immune them to use the Windows Explorer / File Explorer as if cipher happened.

Click on the Window s logo in the bottom-left of your screen, then cull Settings . Y'all tin can also use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open it.
Click on the System tile.
Make certain you stay on the default Brandish tab.
Nether the Scale and layout section, set the scaling for text, apps, and other items to 100% .
Check if Windows Explorer works properly now.

Method half-dozen: Brand space on your system drive

When your system bulldoze (typically the C: drive) is total, many issues can come up. Infinite is required by all applications to store information, including Windows Explorer itself. When this space is not available, Windows Explorer may not respond or even launch.

Here's what you tin exercise to articulate some space up on your system, allowing the Windows Explorer / File Explorer to run with ease. Use these video guides to quickly complimentary upwardly space on your device.

How to Use Storage Sense to Gratuitous Up Space on Windows x
Windows 10: How to Empty Recycle Bin
How to Make clean C Drive In Windows x

Method seven: Run the Arrangement File Checker scan

The System File Checker , also known every bit SFC scan, allows you to automatically gear up a number of problems on your system. Past running it, you may be able to get rid of the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding or freezing mistake.

Printing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to launch the Run utility. Type in " cmd " and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter . This is going to open up the Command Prompt with administrative permissions.
Type in the following command and printing Enter: sfc /scannow
Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your estimator. If it finds any errors, yous'll be able to prepare them automatically through the SFC command itself, which may too prepare related errors.

Method 8: Update Windows x

If none of the methods above worked for you, nosotros recommend but switching over to the latest version of Windows 10.

Sometimes, installing the latest Windows 10 update is the easiest and fastest way of getting rid of bug like the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding. Additionally, you lot can get access to new features, better security, and more than optimization from Microsoft.

Here's how yous can quickly update your system.

Open the Settings application using the Start menu or the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
Click on Update & Security .
In the Windows Update tab, click on the Check for updates push button.
If a new update is plant, click on the Install button.

We hope these methods were able to help you eliminate the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding mistake on your device!