How to Restart Windows Explorer Without Rebooting Computer

Windows 10 and 8

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.

2. 

   Switch to the detailed view, if in the simplified view. Click the "More details" button at the bottom-left, which will expand the window and allow you to view your active processes.

3. 

   Click the "Name" column heading. Doing so will organize the content in the window and allow you to find the Windows Explorer process easier.

4. 

   Scroll down to the "Windows processes" section at the bottom of the list.

5. 

   Click the "Windows Explorer" process listing. It'll have a small file folder

   

   icon next to it.

6. 

   Restart Windows Explorer. Click the Restart button at the bottom-right corner of the Task Manager window. Doing so will end the process and begin another instance of it.

   1. Alternatively, right-click the listing and click Restart.