How to Turn It Back on, Restart Windows Explorer When It Hangs

This guide explains how to turn It Back on, Restart Windows Explorer When It Hangs, with clear steps, practical tips, and important checks before you begin.

The article shows how to restart Windows Explorer without restarting the computer.

Step 1: Open Windows Task Manager. Right-click on the taskbar and select Start Task Manager (or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc ).

Step 2: In Windows Task Manager, select the Processes tab.

Step 3: In Image Name, navigate to explorer. exe .

Step 4: Right-click explorer. exe and select End Process to stop Windows Explorer.

A dialog box appears informing you that you select End process to confirm.

Step 5: Reopen the Windows Explorer process. From the Windows Task Manager interface, select File -> New Task (Run.) .

Enter explorer. exe in the Open box and select OK or press Enter so Windows Explorer will restart.

From now on if Windows Explorer is slow or unresponsive, you don't need to restart your computer, just restart Windows Explorer.

Good luck!