When users try to open a folder, the File Explorer window and Taskbar immediately close down and sometimes reopen after a few seconds. If you’re experiencing File Explorer crashes, use the workarounds below to fix this bug.
Why does File Explorer keeps crashing?
Microsoft has already rolled out a series of cumulative updates to fix this issue, but many users still report Files Explorer crashes. Here are the most common causes of File Explorer crashes:
Corrupted system files Faulty software Malware or virus infection Hardware issues Bad registry Incompatible third-party applications Out-of-date operating system Permission issues Autoplay errors
Many users reported that File Explorer freezes after creating a new folder, and this is usually a bug, so we encourage you to update your OS to the latest version. This isn’t the only issue, and many reported that File Explorer crashes after right-click, which can interfere with your daily activities. To fix it, you might have to restore your system. Unfortunately, this problem is present on all versions, and users reported File Explorer crashes in Windows 11, but there are ways to fix this issue. Here are a few variations to Windows crashes that users have encountered:
File Explorer hangs in Windows 10 – One common problem with File Explorer is slowdowns. According to users, sometimes File Explorer crashes are preceded by frequent hangs. File Explorer crashes in Windows 10 when unzipping/right-clicking/extracting-files/searching – One common variation of this problem is frequent crashes when right-clicking something. This issue usually appears due to third-party apps, but you can fix this problem with one of our solutions. File Explorer Quick Access crashing – Another common problem with File Explorer is frequent crashes while using the Quick Access feature. File Explorer keeps closing/crashing when opening folder in Windows 11 – According to users, it closes by itself in random intervals, which can be a big problem. Windows 10 Explorer crash loop – File Explorer crashing Windows 10 – This is one of the more severe problems since File Explorer can keep crashing constantly. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll encounter a crash loop, and you won’t be able to use File Explorer. File Explorer not responding, not working – In some cases, File Explorer can stop working altogether, and the only solution is to close it by force. File Explorer won’t open – Windows Explorer keeps crashing on startup – Sometimes, File Explorer won’t be able to start at all. This can be a severe problem, but you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions. File Explorer takes a long time to open – Many users reported that their File Explorer is rather slow. According to them, it takes a long time for File Explorer to open, which can be a big problem.
preview pane freezes explorer windows 10 – file explorer randomly closesWindows 7 file explorer keeps crashing Regardless of your specific situation, it would help if you tried our solutions below.
How do I fix Windows Explorer crashing?
1. Repair corrupted system files
An easy way to repair corrupted system files is by downloading a tool specialized in keeping your PC in a healthy and working state. Restoro is a trustworthy option because of its many features. It will scan your PC extensively and generate reports on its performance and health. With its security and stability features, it identifies any malicious files or any software programs prone to frequent crashing. After Restoro finds your corrupted system files, it will repair or replace them with updated files from its massive repository containing over 25 million Windows files. On top of that, the software will deactivate and quarantine detected threats, preventing them from doing any more damage.
2. Run netsh and winsock reset
3. Give yourself full permission to access the folder content
This action is necessary because sometimes the Windows 10 Installer doesn’t correctly manage file permissions. If you’re interested in how to take ownership of a file or a folder, check out this in-depth guide that will help you better understand how to do it.
5. Change your File Explorer Options
If File Explorer crashes on your Windows 10 PC, you might be able to fix the problem simply by changing its settings. According to users, you can fix this problem simply by enabling a single setting. If you want to remove all files associated with your graphics card, you might want to use Display Driver Uninstaller. After removing the driver, you need to visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your device. In addition to your graphics card driver, users recommend reinstalling both audio and Wi-Fi drivers, so you might want to do that. Another great way to do it is to use a dedicated driver updater software, which will search for a working version and overwrite the faulty one. Usually, this type of software can choose which driver to install and which not. This type of tool is beneficial when you are not sure about what version is needed. Instead of risking downloading the wrong version, and making things even worse, use one of the tools. In this case, DriverFix can be very helpful. It is an adequate tool that will easily monitor your device drivers and search for any kind of problem it might experience. Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions. After doing that, you’ll have another Windows Explorer process related to your currently open directory. This is a simple solution, but users claim that it works. Did you know that File Explorer folders have separate process windows in Task Manager? Take a quick look at our article to find out more.
6. Change the text size
According to users, sometimes, File Explorer crashes if your font size isn’t correct. Windows allows you to adjust the font size in your apps, but occasionally, specific values can cause issues with File Explorer. After making the changes to the text size, the issue should be resolved, and File Explorer will stop crashing.
7. Clean File Explorer history
Sometimes you can fix File Explorer crashes simply by clearing your File Explorer history since Windows keeps a list of recently modified directories. Sometimes this can cause various problems. After clicking the Clear button, the file history will be removed, and the problem should be fixed. This is a temporary solution; if the issue reappears, you’ll need to clear your file history again.
8. Don’t display recently used files and folders in the Quick Access section
File Explorer has a Quick Access section that lets you quickly access recently opened files or folders. However, due to specific issues, the Quick access feature can cause File Explorer crashes to occur. SPONSORED One temporary fix you can try is to disable recent files and folders from appearing in the Quick Access section. After that, recent files and frequently used folders won’t appear in the Quick Access section, and the problem should be resolved entirely. Several users suggest that you should also clear your File Explorer history after performing this solution, so be sure to try that as well.
9. Install the latest updates
If File Explorer crashes on your PC, you might be able to fix the problem simply by installing the latest updates. Windows downloads the updates automatically in the background, but sometimes you might miss an important update. Windows will now check for available updates. If updates are available, Windows will download them in the background and install them once you restart your PC. After updating Windows to the latest version, the problems with File Explorer will be resolved.
10. Disable preview panel and preview handlers
According to users, File Explorer crashes can occur due to the preview pane. Many users use the preview pane to preview files before they open them, but sometimes this feature can cause problems with File Explorer. You must disable the preview pane and preview handlers to fix the issue. After turning these options off, the problem should be resolved entirely.
11. Set File Explorer to open This PC
By default, File Explorer will open the Quick Access section. This is the default behavior, but sometimes Quick Access can cause File Explorer crashes. In addition, users suggest changing File Explorer settings to open This PC instead of Quick Access to circumvent this problem. After making these changes, File Explorer will open This PC instead of Quick Access by default. This is just a simple workaround, but many users reported that it works for them, so feel free to try it out.
12. Disable or remove your antivirus
Antivirus software is essential if you want to protect your PC from online threats. Unfortunately, several users reported that their antivirus software caused problems with File Explorer. According to them, your antivirus can cause File Explorer crashes, so we recommend disabling your antivirus to fix the problem. If disabling the antivirus doesn’t help, you might have to uninstall it. If you’re a Norton user, we’ve got a dedicated guide on deleting it from your PC. There is a similar article for McAfee users, as well. Remember that uninstalling the antivirus isn’t always enough, so you might have to remove all associated files and registry entries. So the simplest way to do that is to use a dedicated removal tool. Almost all antivirus companies offer removal tools for their software, but sometimes even they leave behind registry files. Thus, it’s recommended to use dedicated uninstaller solutions that will do it for you. So if you want the most effective service to remove your antivirus for good, choose the best uninstaller software for Windows 10. After you remove your antivirus, install the latest version and check if that solves the issue. Alternatively, you can switch to a different antivirus solution. For example, users reported that AVG, McAfee, and Malwarebytes cause this problem, but other antivirus tools can also cause this issue.
13. Remove or edit IDT Audio
13.1 Remove IDT Audio
If you don’t want to use the Settings app, you can uninstall IDT Audio by doing the following: Many PC manufacturers, such as Dell and HP, use IDT Audio. This application usually comes preinstalled on PCs, which can sometimes cause File Explorer crashes. To fix the problem, you need to find and uninstall this application.
13.2 Edit IDT Audio
Few users claim that you don’t even have to uninstall IDT audio; you can change the name of its Control Panel applet.
14. Disable problematic context menu items
After Windows Explorer restarts, the disabled applications won’t appear in your context menu anymore, and the problem should be resolved. According to users, the following items can cause this problem to appear on your PC, so be sure to disable them:
SpyBoy Search & Destroy Shell Extension Carbonite Context Menu AVG antivirus Format Factory Nvidia’s OpenGLshExt Class ConvertToPdf Class by Foxit Software WinRAR
According to users, File Explorer crashes can occur due to certain context menu items. Usually, third-party applications will add their features to your context menu, causing this problem whenever you right-click something. To fix this issue, you need to use ShellExView software. This is a freeware application that allows you to disable context menu items. These are the common causes of this problem, but other third-party applications can also cause this issue.
15. Remove the malicious files
Sometimes File Explorer crashes can occur due to malicious files. Several users reported this problem because a specific .tmp file in C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/PerformanceMonitor/ was malicious. After removing the problematic file, the issue was resolved entirely. There you have it; our top solutions for File Explorer crashes. We hope you managed to fix the problem by using one of our solutions. Alternatively, if you’re interested in other File Explorer issues on Windows 10, you can check out our comprehensive guide with many great solutions for different Explorer problems. In conclusion, if you have any other suggestions or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below, and we’ll be sure to take a look.
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