How to Restore explorer.exe in Windows 10
If you’re a Windows 10 user and have encountered issues with explorer.exe, the file responsible for managing the graphical user interface, you might be looking for ways to restore it. Restoring explorer.exe is crucial as it ensures that your desktop, taskbar, and file explorer function properly. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to restore explorer.exe in Windows 10.
1. Restart Your Computer
The simplest and most common solution to restore explorer.exe is to restart your computer. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with the explorer.exe process. To restart your computer, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Under the “Recovery” section, click on “Restart now” under “Advanced startup.”
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to restart your computer.
2. Use Task Manager to End explorer.exe Process
If restarting your computer doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try ending the explorer.exe process using Task Manager. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the “Processes” tab.
3. Find “Windows Explorer” or “explorer.exe” in the list of processes.
4. Right-click on it and select “End Task.”
5. Click “End Process” to confirm.
3. Use System File Checker to Repair Corrupted Files
The System File Checker is a built-in Windows tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files. To use it to restore explorer.exe, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the list.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: `sfc /scannow`
3. Wait for the scan to complete. If any corrupted files are found, the tool will automatically repair them.
4. Run DISM Tool to Fix Corrupted System Image
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can also help fix corrupted system files and restore explorer.exe. Here’s how to use it:
1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) as described in step 1 of the previous section.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: `dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth`
3. Wait for the scan to complete. If any corrupted files are found, the tool will attempt to repair them.
4. If the tool fails to repair the corrupted files, run the following command: `dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth`
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the corrupted system image.
5. Reset Windows 10
If none of the above methods work, you can try resetting Windows 10 to restore explorer.exe. This will erase all personal files and settings but will keep your apps and drivers. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Under the “Recovery” section, click on “Get started” under “Reset this PC.”
4. Choose “Keep my files” or “Remove everything” based on your preference.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows 10.
Conclusion
Restoring explorer.exe in Windows 10 can be a challenging task, but with the right steps, you can resolve the issue and ensure your system runs smoothly. By following the methods outlined in this article, you should be able to restore explorer.exe and enjoy a fully functional Windows 10 experience.
