Most complications with Windows Explorer or File Explorer are one-off instances that only show up while the operating system is under stress. But if you experience the same problem repeatedly, the troubleshooting tips below should allow you to sort it out.
Restart File Explorer
Restart File Explorer
Restarting Windows Explorer (which continues to be the underlying process behind File Explorer) is a quick fix for minor system-related glitches that cause it to freeze or crash.
Reopen File Explorer
Reopen File Explorer
File management aside, File Explorer also powers the user interfaces behind elements such as the taskbar and desktop. So if it crashes completely (as in, you don’t see the taskbar and desktop), you must re-open it manually.
Disable Details and Preview Panes
Disable Details and Preview Panes
If you only encounter the “Windows Explorer is not responding” or “Windows Explorer has stopped working” errors while selecting files and folders in File Explorer, try turning off the Details and Preview panes.
Change Default File Explorer View
Change Default File Explorer View
If File Explorer freezes or crashes as soon as you open it, changing the default view from Quick access to This PC could prevent that. You won’t see a list of your recent files and folders anymore, but it does allow you to rule out issues caused by obsolete or broken entries within the File Explorer history.
Clear Thumbnail Cache
Clear Thumbnail Cache
File Explorer displays thumbnail previews of files and folders. But an outdated thumbnail cache is another possible reason for freezes and crashes, so clearing it can help.
Disable Thumbnail Previews
Disable Thumbnail Previews
If clearing the thumbnail cache didn’t help, try turning off all thumbnail previews in File Explorer.
Set Display Scale and Layout to Defaults
Set Display Scale and Layout to Defaults
Using a larger display size for text and apps can also trigger the “Windows Explorer is not responding” and “Windows Explorer has stopped working” errors. It’s best to revert that to the default recommended setting.
Update or Roll Back Display Driver
Update or Roll Back Display Driver
An outdated display driver can result in all sorts of File Explorer-related issues. You can download and install the latest version of the driver by heading over to the video card manufacturer’s website – NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. However, if the issue occurred right after a recent display driver update, you must roll it back.
Update Windows 10
Update Windows 10
Display drivers aside, File Explorer can also fail to respond or stop working due to an outdated version of Windows 10. If you haven’t updated the operating system recently, try doing that as soon as possible.
Run Malware Scan
Run Malware Scan
Malicious programs can induce all sorts of issues and prevent critical Windows components such as File Explorer from working correctly. If you don’t have a third-party antivirus solution on your computer, you can use Windows Security to remove malware instead.
Disable Third-Party Shell Extensions
Disable Third-Party Shell Extensions
Does File Explorer freeze or crash only when right-clicking items? Conflicting contextual menu entries from third-party programs usually cause that. Use a program such as ShellExView to disable them.
Reset File Associations
Reset File Associations
Incorrect, conflicting, or broken file associations in Windows 10 are another reason that results in File Explorer-related freezes and crashes. Try resetting them.
Run SFC Scan and DISM Tool
Run SFC Scan and DISM Tool
If the “Windows Explorer is not responding” and “Windows Explorer has stopped working” errors continue to show up, it’s a good idea to run the System File Checker and the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool. That should fix File Explorer-related issues caused by corrupted system files.
Run System File Checker
Run DISM Tool
Windows Explorer Still Not Working: What Else?
Windows Explorer Still Not Working: What Else?
The fixes above should’ve helped you resolve issues with File Explorer not responding. If not, here are several advanced fixes that you can try:
Retry the fixes above after loading Windows 10 in Safe ModeDelete temporary files in Windows 10Perform a clean bootUse System Restore to revert Windows 10Restore Windows 10 to factory settings
Going forward, keeping the operating system updated is the best way to minimize potential File Explorer-related issues.
