Recently many people posted that they are facing windows explorer keeps crashing error on their windows pc. We also met the same and hence we dive deep to find the reason behind this problem. Yes, we find few reasons that cause this problem, and today we are here with a series of solutions to save your time.
Windows Explorer or File Explorer, or file manager in windows, is not a common file manager. It is also known as explorer.exe, which can generate parts of your UI, from start to desktop icons. It means this app is highly used on windows computers. And if Windows 10 explorer keeps crashing, you can’t use your windows pc seamlessly.
And to fix this, we have listed few different methods to solve windows explorer keeps crashing issue. So please have a look, go through the steps, and let us know which one works for you. So let’s start.
Recommended: How To Take A Screenshot On HP Laptop
How To Solve Windows Explorer Keeps Crashing?
Fix 1: Check windows for Update
The common reason for windows 10 explorer keeps crashing is not updated windows. So the first thing you can try to fix this issue is to check whether your windows are up to date. An adequately updated system can solve many problems related to your windows system. So to check Windows system is up to date or not, you can follow these steps.
Step 1: From the bottom left corner, press the windows icon, and it will show few options on the screen.
Step 2: From here, press the setting icon and choose the Update & Security option.
Step 3: Next, click on Windows update followed by Check for updates from the right pane.
Step 4: If there’s any update available, windows will download them automatically.
Step 5: Once the Update is download, restart your pc and complete the installation process.
Fix 2: Disable Thumbnails
Thumbnails can be the culprit for windows 10 explorer keeps crashing. It happens when there are too many images in a specific folder. Disabling thumbnail can be a useful solution for your system. How? Here are the steps.
Step 1: Open control panel from the search bar of the windows.
Step 2: Now on the upper right corner, choose the view by large icons option.
Step 3: Next, go to the File Explorer >> View >> Always show icons, never thumbnails.
Step 4: Click on Apply >> ok to save changes.
Fix 3: Clear File Explorer History
File explorer history clearing can help you to solve the issue you are facing. You can clear file explorer history by following these steps.
Step 1: Type File Explorer Options in the windows search bar and click on it to open it.
Step 2: Click on the General tab.
Step 3: Next, click on Clear in the Privacy section, and it will clear the history in no time.
Fix 4: Launch Folder Windows in a separate process
File explorer windows run by explorer.exe process by default. There might be chances that File Explorer windows crashes due to the process. To solve this problem, you have to enable Launch folder windows in a separate process setting.
Step 1: Open file Explorer Options >> View >> launch folder windows in a separate process >> enable it.
Step 2: Click on Apply >> ok to save the changes in settings.
Fix 5: Run SFC and CHKDSK Scans
You can run chkdisk (hard disk scan), and SFC (system file check) scans to solve windows explorer keeps crashing.
CHKDISK Scan
Step 1: Open command prompt from the search bar. Make sure you open it as administrator.
Step 2: You can see a black window, here type chkdsk /f /r and press enter.
Step 3: Next, press Y to continue the hard disk check and press enter.
Step 4: Once the process completes, restart your pc to make windows check the hard disk.
SFC Scan:
If CHKDISK doesn’t work, you can try an SFC scan.
Step 1: Open command prompt as we have done in CHKDISK scan.
Step 2: Now type SFC /scannow and press enter.
Step 3: It will run few commands on your system. Wait till the scan completes.
It will detect your system has damage files or not. If there is any, windows will automatically fix them.
Step 4: Restart your pc and check your problem is solved or not.
Fix 6: Graphics Card Driver
Outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can be the reason for Windows 10 Explorer keeps crashing. You can reinstall your graphics card to solve the problem.
You can update the driver in two ways: manually or automatically. I will share the manual method here. To update automatically, you can use software like Auslogic driver and update it in few clicks.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows logo and click on device manager.
Step 2: Now scroll down and double click on Display adapters to expand it.
Step 3: Select your graphics card, right-click and choose Uninstall device.
Step 4: A popup will ask for your confirmation, accept it and click on Uninstall.
Step 5: Restart your pc. Your system will automatically reinstall the graphics card. If it does not, visit the official website of the graphics card manufacturer and download the latest driver.
Step 6: Again open Device manager >> Action >> Scan for hardware changes.
Wait till the process completes.
Fix 7: Check Installed Add-ons
Do you know that installed add-ons can be the reason for windows explorer keeps crashing? Yes, many applications install add-ons in Windows Explorer. Most of the time, they are handy, but sometimes they can crash windows explorer.
That is why you need to check whether you have installed any add-ons. If yes, then try to disable or uninstall them to check it solve the problem or not. We suggest you try one by one disabling add-on to find the culprit.
Fix 8: Run Netsh Winsock Reset
netsh Winsock reset command recover pc from any socket errors happens when you download some unknown file or malicious script on pc. Running netsh Winsock reset may solve your problem because it worked for me.
Step 1: Open command prompt as an admin.
Step 2: Type netsh Winsock reset command and hit enter.
Step 3: Wait till all command runs, and then reboot your system.
Fix 9: Check Account Permission
If your windows 10 explorer keep crashing while opening a specific folder, I think you need to check the permission to access it.
Step 1: Open file explorer and right-click on the folder you want to access.
Step 2: Now choose properties. Go to security >> Advanced.
Step 3: Next to the owner, click on change and add administrator (your user account) in the box. The box is located under the Enter the object name to select section.
Step 4: Click on check names and then ok.
Step 5: As soon you press on, you will get an exit from Select User or Group. After that, press ok again to save changes.
Step 6: Go to the user properties and then security. Here click on the Edit tab to change permission.
Step 7: You will find the Permission for Administrators section. Enable Allow for Full Control option and click on ok.
Fix 10: Disable Quick Access
We use some folder quite often and to open such folders, quick access function help us to open folder faster. But in some cases, it causes windows 10 explorer keeps crashing error. In this scenario, disabling the quick access function might solve your problem.
Step 1: Open File Explorer Options and navigate to the General tab from the top of the window.
Step 2: Instead of quick access, choose Open File Explorer to This PC.
Step 3: Also, uncheck these two options under the privacy section:
1. Show recently used files in Quick access
2. Show frequently used folders in Quick access
Step 4: Click on apply >> ok to save changes.
Fix 11: Check for malware
If your windows explorer keeps crashing, you can check for malware. You can check it with third-party software. However, it is not necessary. Windows defender is more than enough.
Step 1: Type windows security in the search bar and opens it.
Step 2: Now click on Virus & threat protection >> Scan options >> Microsoft Defender Offline scan >> Scan Now.
Now windows will restart and start with a boot-level scan to find malware on your system.
Conclusion:
It is all about fixes for windows explorer keeps crashing. Hopefully, any of the above solutions work for you. If yes, share which one works for you. And if not, use the comment section below to help you further related to windows 10 explorer keeps crashing error according to your system.
Recommended Reading:
- How To Fix High CPU Usage By Antimalware Service Executable (Msmpeng)
- Fix Generic PnP Monitor Problem On Windows 10
- How To Enable Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) In Windows 10 Home Edition
