Windows Explorer stopped responding and was closed
Windows Explorer is your primary way of navigating your system. It allows you to see, access, and manage all the files residing on your device. Show
When Windows Explorer is not responding, frozen, or won’t open, you will run into many frustrating problems while trying to use your computer. We’re here to help you with this issue. This guide focuses on how you can fix the Windows Explorer not responding on a Windows 10 operating system. Note: Windows Explorer is also 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 not 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 can determine multiple causes that may lead to your Windows Explorer not responding, freezing, or not opening at all.
Fix: Windows Explorer not respondingWe’ve identified most of the possible causes for this problem, and now it’s time to fix your Windows Explorer. We’ve compiled a great number of solutions to help you no matter what causes Windows Explorer to behave in a faulty way. Method 1: Automatically restart the Windows Explorer in the Task ManagerThe first thing to try is restarting the Windows Explorer / File Explorer. Here’s how you can restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer with the Task Manager in Windows 10:
Method 2: Manually restart Windows Explorer with the Command PromptAnother method of restarting the Windows Explorer / File Explorer is using the Command Prompt. Sometimes an automated restart isn’t the best way to go, which is why you can also use a command to get the job done. This is how you can restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer using nothing but the Command Prompt:
Method 3: Restart the explorer.exe process with a batch fileStill, no luck restarting? No problem! There’s one more thing to try, which is creating a batch (.bat) file and running it with administrative permissions to end and restart the Windows Explorer / File Explorer.
Tip: If you keep the batch file you just created, you can easily restart Windows Explorer using it any time! Method 4: Clear the File Explorer historyAs mentioned above, the Windows Explorer / File Explorer history may get clogged and cause problems. You can easily fix this by clearing the history.
Method 5: Revert your display settingsIn specific cases, users report that reverting their display settings to default allowed them to use the Windows Explorer / File Explorer as if nothing happened.
Method 6: Make space on your system driveWhen your system drive (typically the C: drive) is full, many issues can come up. Space is required by all applications to store data, including Windows Explorer itself. When this space is not available, Windows Explorer may not respond or even launch. Here’s what you can do to clear some space up on your system, allowing the Windows Explorer / File Explorer to run with ease. Use these video guides to quickly free up space on your device.
Method 7: Run the System File Checker scanThe System File Checker, also known as SFC scan, allows you to automatically fix a number of issues on your system. By running it, you may be able to get rid of the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding or freezing error.
Method 8: Update Windows 10If none of the methods above worked for you, we recommend simply 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 issues like the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding. Additionally, you can get access to new features, better security, and more optimization from Microsoft. Here’s how you can quickly update your system.
We hope these methods were able to help you eliminate the Windows Explorer / File Explorer not responding error on your device! What happens if you accidentally close Windows Explorer?Right-click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and click Task Manager. Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys at the same time and select Task Manager. Click More details. Find and click Windows Explorer, and click Restart in the lower right corner.
Why does Windows Explorer randomly close?When File Explorer keeps crashing, missing or corrupt files are among the most common causes. To check for (and repair) any missing or corrupt system files, you can run the System File Checker tool (SFC) using the Windows PowerShell.
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