How to Restart Windows Explorer Without Rebooting Computer

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Quick ways to safely reset Windows Explorer
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Windows Explorer renders the file manager, desktop icons, taskbar, task switcher, and a few other elements. When Windows Explorer becomes unresponsive and freezes, it's often necessary to restart it. Luckily, there are ways to do this without turning your PC off. Here's how to restart Windows Explorer without rebooting your computer.

Quick Steps

  1. Right-click the Start menu and click Task Manager .
  2. Right-click Windows Explorer .
  3. Click Restart .
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using Task Manager

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  1. Open the Task Manager . Right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager .
    • If your taskbar is missing, press CTRL + ALT + Del and click Task Manager .
  2. This will be underneath the Name header, next to a folder icon. [1]
    • If you aren't already on the Processes tab, click it to navigate there now.
    • If you don't see any apps listed, click More details at the bottom of the window.
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  3. This will restart Windows Explorer. [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using Command Prompt

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  1. Open the Command Prompt . Click the Start menu and type "cmd". The Command Prompt will be the first result.
    • Alternatively, press the Windows key + R to open the Run program. Type "cmd" and press Enter .
  2. This will run the code to stop explorer.exe. [3]
  3. This will run the code to start explorer.exe again. [4]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using a BAT File

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  1. Use the command in the above method to create a batch file that will run the command for you.
  2. Write taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe .
  3. Name the file restartexplorer.bat or something similar. You can name the file anything you want, but make sure you include .bat at the end, so your computer knows it's a batch file.
  4. Windows Explorer will close and restart in the same exact way as if you typed it into the Command Prompt yourself.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using Exit Explorer

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  1. Keep these keys pressed down.
    • Note: this method does not work in Windows 11.
  2. When the pop-up menu opens, you can release the keyboard keys.
  3. This is at the very bottom of the menu.
  4. Right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager .
    • Alternatively, press CTRL + ALT + Del and click Task Manager . [5]
  5. This will be at the top-right corner.
    • If you don't see anything listed, click More details at the bottom of the window.
  6. A new window will open.
  7. This will start explorer.exe again.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Signing Out

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  1. If your computer is still functioning but Explorer is being weird, you can sometimes fix it just by signing out of your account then signing back in. You may lose data in any open programs, however.
  2. This will log you out of your current account.
  3. Windows Explorer should be working properly again.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if I have a blank screen after following all the Windows 10 instructions?
    Community Answer
    Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), expand Task Manager into the detailed view, click "File", type "cmd", click "OK" or hit "Enter". In Command Prompt, type "explorer" and hit "Enter". Your desktop should appear.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 21
  • Question
    My computer wrote a bios error then it just switched off on screen. Any tips?
    Community Answer
    1.Open the Task Manager. Since the taskbar is likely to be frozen along with Windows Explorer, pressing Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc will also open the Task Manager.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
  • Question
    Is it safe to restart Windows Explorer while it is deleting something?
    Jasneet Singh Saini
    Community Answer
    No. If you do so, your computer might hang, crash or the file might not be deleted.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • If Windows Explorer is closed and not re-opened, any keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key will not function until Windows Explorer is restarted.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.windowscentral.com/how-restart-explorerexe-fix-common-ui-problems-windows-10
      2. ↑ https://www.windowscentral.com/how-restart-explorerexe-fix-common-ui-problems-windows-10
      3. ↑ https://www.xda-developers.com/ways-restart-file-explorer-windows-11/
      4. ↑ https://www.xda-developers.com/ways-restart-file-explorer-windows-11/
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Sep 28, 2016

        "A bunch of stuff in virtual memory, desktop glitchy, so I killed it with task manager. But I was on a Win7 machine ..." more
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