File Explorer on Windows is one of the most essential and frequently used applications. File Manager or File Explorer is a management tool that helps generate parts of your user interface (from the Start menu to your desktop icons).
There are times when you encounter the Windows File Explorer crashing abruptly or Windows Explorer restarting multiple times and not letting you get easy access to your data and other storage devices. The most common reasons are; not keeping your Windows up to date, missing or corrupt files on your computer, outdated or corrupt display drivers, search indexing issues, insufficient system resources, corrupted thumbnail cache, virus or malware infections, corrupted Windows user profile, corrupt, missing, or damaged system files, and conflict or interruption among third-party applications can all cause the “Windows File Explorer Crashing” issue.
If you think your files, folders, or data have disappeared from your Windows system after you have encountered the Windows Explorer crashing issue.
You can either restore the missing, lost, or disappeared data from the backup if you have taken any backups earlier. In case, you don’t have backups you can always rely on professional data recovery tools like SFWare Data Recovery Tool.
Now that you know why Windows Explorer keeps constantly crashing or Explorer keeps freezing? The next section will help you fix the issue and get your Windows File Explorer back to a working state.
How to Fix Windows File Explorer Keeps Crashing Problem?
Here is the list of feasible workarounds that are easy and simple to fix the problem. Click on the list for quick navigation and get the hassle-free file explorer. These solutions help you fix problems with Windows File Explorer on Windows 11/10/ 8 and other old versions.
Methods to Fix File Explorer Problem on Windows 11/10 and Other Older Versions
Clear Windows Explorer History on Your Computer: Not clearing history records for a longer period could cause your Windows File Explorer to keep crashing.
Disable Third-Party Explorer Extensions: Unstable, untrusty applications could also be a reason behind the issue.
Disable Anti-Virus applications: Sometimes, Antivirus may interfere with the running application and create a problem to run unevenly.
Separate File Explorer Processes: Generally, the exploration process runs as a single process on the PC, which means a single system process carries each new File Explorer window that opens. This may lead to stability issues and crashes.
Check for Windows System Updates: This keeps your Windows OS updated and prevents the system from crashing or freezing.
Check Windows Error Logs: This tool can help you find the specific error causing the logs to crash Explorer.
Run System File Checker: This scans your Windows file system and helps fix files and drive corruptions.
Now, let’s see the procedure for each method to prevent Windows File Explorer from crashing. The methods below work for all Windows OSs, including the latest Windows 10/8/7 and other older versions.
Method 1: Clear Windows Explorer History on Your Computer
Removing or clearing the File Explorer History erases the cache which stores the information for quick access. However, over time this cache becomes oversized, which causes it to become corrupt and eventually causes problems for the Windows users.
To clear the history, you can follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Search for the File Explorer Options. Press on the General menu available on the screen.
Step 2: Scroll down to the last Privacy option. Press the Clear button on the screen.
Step 3: Restart Windows File Explorer, and see if the issue was resolved or not.
Method 2: Disable Third-Party Explorer Extensions
Third-party add-ins or installed software can cause conflict with the default functioning of the Windows File Explorer or other utilities. Additionally, non-Microsoft Shell extensions from third-party programs might also become corrupt, outdated, or incompatible with the current version of Windows.
In such cases, you can either perform a clean boot or disable third-party add-ins to resolve the explorer.exe keeps crashing issues.
You can disable third-party explorer extensions using a free application called ShellExView-
Step 1: Install ShellExView on your system. Select the Options bar on the top side.
Step 2: Select Hide All Microsoft Extensions->Press Ctrl + A to select extensions.
Step 3: Select any one extension and right-click ->Disabled selection items.
This will disable all the trouble-causing extensions.
If your Windows File Explorer straightaway refuses to open. Then, there might be an issue with Anti-virus applications.
Method 3: Disable Anti-Virus Applications to Fix File Explorer Not Opening Problem
If the antivirus is a trouble-causing application, it is extremely easy to fix the problem. All you must do is close the currently running antivirus on your computer. Now, these programs will not cause conflicts between Windows tools and applications.
If you still encounter the problem, try repairing the trouble-causing files and recovering corrupted files from the drive.
Method 4: Separate File Explorer Processes
The Separate File Explorer Processes setting allows each File Explorer window to run in its independent process, instead of having all processes share a single File Explorer window. By default, File Explorer operates as a single process, which means that all open windows or programs and their functions rely on one system process.
If your Windows File Explorer runs as a single process. In case, any window or task crashes or closes (due to heavy load, insufficient system resources, or corrupt files), it will cause all open windows to crash/close/stop/ or freeze. Leading to instability and frequent issues.
Therefore, by separating the File Explorer processes, each window can run in its separate process. If one window crashes, it will not affect the others. Also improving the system’s overall stability.
To overcome the single system process, you need to run the explorer process on separate files.
Step 1: Open File Explorer ->press File -> Change folder and search options (File -> Options: in some OS).
Step 2: A Folder Options window opens. Go to the View tab -> In the Advanced settings window, press the Launch folder windows in a separate process checkbox and enable the feature.
Step 3: Click OK to save and apply the setting.
Step 4: Restart Windows File Explorer.
Method 5: Check for Windows System Updates to Stop Windows Explorer Freeze Issue
Using an outdated version of Windows can lead to compatibility issues, glitches, bugs, or unpatched security problems.
If an outdated or incompatible Windows OS is the cause of the problem. Then check for and install the latest Windows updates.
You need to check for the new update if your computer is outdated. To do so-
Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu -> click on Settings
Step 2: Update & Security -> Windows Update
If you see any pending updates, click Install Now; if not, press Check for Updates to search for any available updates.
After Windows downloads all the updates, Restart your PC. Restarting the PC installs all the downloaded updates automatically.
Method 6: Check Windows Error Logs to Fix File Explorer Crashing
Windows Error Logs are comprehensive records of errors and events that occur on a Windows system. Including the issues related to applications, system processes, and security, such as system malfunctions, crashes, and even minor as well as major warnings. All of this information is stored in Event Viewers.
To find the specific Windows error log, follow the steps given below.
Step 1: Right-click the Start menu -> press Run.
Step 2: Now, type eventvwr -> click OK. This will launch the Windows Event Viewer
Step 3: When the Event Viewer window opens, press Windows Logs Application in the left-hand menu
Step 4: Next, on the right-hand side, search for Event ID 1000. Event ID 1000 represents an error in the Windows Explorer Process.
Step 5: Once you have selected the error, select it and check the General information listed below.
Method 7: Run System File Checker to Stop File Explorer from Crashing
To check for any errors in system files, run System File Checker using Windows PowerShell.
Step 1: To open a new PowerShell window, right-click the Start menu -> Click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
Step 2: Next, type sfc /scannow ->press the Enter key.
Although the SFC tool will take some time to scan file errors on your PC, it ensures the overall integrity of your Windows File system. If any errors are detected, Windows will repair and replace the files.
If your drive is severely corrupted, you might end up losing data.
SFWare Data Recovery tool can help you recover not only lost but also missing or disappeared data in a few minutes, from any version of Windows OS and system.
Steps to Recover Data from Windows System Where File Explorer Keeps Crashing/Freezing/Closing/Not Responding/Not Opening/ or Stuck
1: Download, set up, and install SFWare Data Recovery Software on your Windows system.
2: Select the location of the missing or disappeared data and click on the Start Scan button.
3: Once the drive scanning process is in progress. Users can view the recovered files, folders, and data from the selected location.
A list of data will be displayed on your screen. You can use the manual to locate your preferred files or use the Filter option to filter files based on various criteria. You can also use the Search Bar to find anything specific.
4: SFWare allows you to preview the recovered files, upon completion of the recovery and previewing stage. Select the data that you want to restore click on the Save button and provide a location where you want to save the recovered data.
This will provide some information on the cause of the issue, which you may need to research and troubleshoot further. For instance, if the trouble is caused by a third-party application, you may need to remove or fix it.
Bottom Line:
These are the easy ways to fix the Windows File Explorer problem of constantly crashing/freezing/not responding, or stuck. If you happen to experience data loss at any step, do not worry; you can recover your lost data using the most trusted SFWare Data Recovery Software.
The tool can also recover data from formatted/ reformatted, RAW, corrupted, or damaged hard drives, including external drives, SD cards, and USBs.
