Why Does My Windows Explorer Stop Working?
Windows Explorer is an essential component of the Windows operating system, providing users with a graphical user interface to navigate through files, folders, and drives. However, many users have encountered the frustrating issue where Windows Explorer suddenly stops working, leaving them unable to access their files and folders. In this article, we will explore the possible reasons behind this problem and provide solutions to help you get your Windows Explorer up and running again.
1. Corrupted System Files
One of the most common reasons for Windows Explorer to stop working is corrupted system files. These files are crucial for the proper functioning of the operating system, including Windows Explorer. If any of these files become corrupted, it can lead to the explorer.exe process crashing or not starting at all.
To resolve this issue, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan and repair corrupted system files. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the list.
2. In the command prompt or PowerShell window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the process to complete. If any corrupted files are found, SFC will attempt to repair them automatically.
2. Conflicting Software
Another common cause of Windows Explorer issues is conflicting software. Some third-party applications may interfere with the explorer.exe process, causing it to crash or not start. To identify and resolve this issue, follow these steps:
1. Temporarily disable or uninstall recently installed software, especially those that have the potential to interfere with Windows Explorer.
2. Restart your computer and check if Windows Explorer is working again.
3. If the issue persists, try to identify the conflicting software by enabling one application at a time and checking if Windows Explorer starts.
3. Insufficient System Resources
Windows Explorer may also stop working if your system is running low on resources, such as memory or disk space. To check for insufficient system resources, follow these steps:
1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-clicking the taskbar and selecting “Task Manager.”
2. Go to the “Performance” tab and check the CPU, Memory, and Disk usage.
3. If any of these resources are consistently at 100%, try closing unnecessary applications or freeing up disk space to resolve the issue.
4. Outdated or Corrupted Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers can also cause Windows Explorer to stop working. To ensure that your drivers are up to date and functioning correctly, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the list.
2. Expand the device categories and check for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark, indicating a problem.
3. Right-click on the problematic device and select “Update driver” or “Uninstall device.”
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to update or uninstall the driver.
5. Reinstalling Windows Explorer
If none of the above solutions work, you can try reinstalling Windows Explorer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the list.
2. In the command prompt or PowerShell window, type “net stop explorer” and press Enter to stop the Windows Explorer process.
3. Next, type “del %SystemRoot%\system32\explorer.exe” and press Enter to delete the explorer.exe file.
4. Finally, type “net start explorer” and press Enter to start the Windows Explorer process again.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of Windows Explorer not working on your Windows system. If the problem persists, it may be advisable to seek professional assistance from a certified technician.
