Summary:
Windows File Explorer keeps crashing? Isn’t that annoying while working on something important on your computer? If you have encountered file explorer crashing or stopped working, know the reasons behind the problem and the best possible solutions to fix the problem.
File explorer on Windows is one of the most essential and most frequently used applications. File Manager or File explorer is not only a managing tool but also helps to generate parts of your user interface (from the Start menu to your desktop icons). There are times you encounter the application keeps crashing and not letting you to get easy access.
Why does my Explorer Keep Crashing?
If you are wondering what is the reason behind File explorer crashing, the most common could be not keeping your Windows up to date, missing or corrupt files on your computer and third-party application interrupting the Windows application to run.
Here are few basic tips/ solutions that helps you fix the issue gets your Windows File Explorer back to 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. For quick navigation, click on the list and get the hassle-free file explorer. These solutions help you fix problem with Windows file explorer on Windows 11/10/ 8 and old versions as well.
Methods to Fix File Explorer Problem on Windows 11/10?
Run System File Checker: Scans your Windows file system and helps to fix files and drive corruptions.
Check for Windows System Updates: Keeps your Windows OS updated and avoids system being crashed or frozen.
Clear Windows Explorer History on Your Computer: Not clearing history records for longer period could cause your problem of Windows File Explorer keeps crashing.
Separate File Explorer Processes: Generally, the explore process runs as a single process on PC, which means each new File Explorer window open is carried by a single system process. This may lead to stability issues and lead to crashing.
Check Windows Error Logs: With the help of this, you can find out the specific error causing logs that leads to explorer 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 uneven.
Now, let’s see the procedure of each method to keep Windows File Explorer not crashing. The below mentioned methods works for all Windows OS including the latest Windows 10/8/7 and other older versions.
Method 1:Run System File Checker to Stop File Explorer Crashing
To check for any errors on 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.
Al though, 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. With SFWare Data Recovery tool, you can recover lost data in few minutes.
Method 2: Check for Windows System Updates
If your computer is out of date, you need to check for the new update. To do so-
Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu -> click on Settings
Step 2: Update & Security -> Windows Update
If you see any updates pending, click on Install Now, if not press Check for Updates to search for any available updates.
After Windows downloading all the updates, Restart your PC. Restarting the PC installs all the downloaded updates automatically.
Method 3: Clear Windows Explorer History on Your Computer
For clearing 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: Scroll down to the last Privacy option. Press on the Clear button on the screen.
Method 4: Separate File Explorer Processes
To overcome the single system process, you need to run 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.
Method 5:Check Windows Error Logs to Fix File Explorer Crashing
To find the specific windows error log, follow the steps given below.
Step1: 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 the Event ID 1000. Event ID 1000 represents an error on Windows Explorer Process.
Step 5: Once you have sited an error, select it and check the General information listed below.
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 any third-party application, you may need to remove or fix the issue.
Method 6: Disable Third-Party Explorer Extensions
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 for selecting extensions.
Step 3: Select any one extension and right-click ->Disabled selection items.
This will disable all the trouble causing extensions.
Method 7: Disable Anti-Virus applications
If antivirus is the trouble causing application, it is extremely easy to fix the trouble. All you must do is, close the currently running antivirus on your computer. Now, these programs will not be causing conflicts between Windows tools and application.
If you still encounter the problem, try repairing the trouble causing files and recover corrupted files from the drive.
Bottom Line:
These are the easy ways to fix the Windows File Explorer keeps crashing trouble. 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 be used to recover data from formatted/ re-formatted, RAW, corrupted and any damaged hard drives including external drives, SD cards and USBs.