Sometimes, it can also crash when opening Quick Access. It might also freeze or close on its own, show the “Not Responding” message, or sometimes won’t open at all. In these cases, it’s also important to notice how frequent or serious of an error you’re facing. This can indicate a need for different solutions.
Why is My Windows Files Explorer Crashing?
How to Fix Windows File Explorer Keeps Crashing?
Since the reasons for the File Explorer crashing error can be difficult to pinpoint, we’ll need to try an array of different solutions. Let’s take a look in detail:
Wrong system settingsSystem files are corrupted or missingBuggy or faulty third-party software Potential virusesOutdated Windows version Files can’t manage permissionsMinor bugsChanges to Registry Issues with GPU
Change File Explorer Options
Starting with a simple fix, you can change the settings of your File Explorer. It can crash if there are multiple processes going on together at once. This behaviour can be taxing on the CPU. So, you can separate these processes to run them individually. Here’s how you can change the setting for it:
Remove File Explorer History
Another easy way to fix a crashing File Explorer is to delete its history. Same with apps or browsers, piled up information about the Explorer history can be heavy on your CPU. In this case, we’re going to try clearing the history data and see if it helps Explorer run more smoothly. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Allow Permission to Access Folder Content
Some files may occasionally have issues with managing the permissions. So, you can try adjusting the permission for the folder contents manually. You can follow these steps to do so:
Turn Off Preview Pane and Preview Handlers
Sometimes, the Preview pane and handlers can slow the File Explorer since it has to work hard to load the images or files. So, you can try turning this feature off. Here are the steps you can follow:
Check Windows Logs
You can also check your Windows error log to see if any action has caused File Explorer to crash. These are the steps you’ll need to follow:
Allow File Explorer to Open This Pc
It’s often to first always go to Quick Access since the File Explorer also opens it by default. However, this action can also make Explorer crash. So, instead of opening Quick Access, you can make Explorer open This PC first. Here’s how you can do it.
Run SFC and DISM Scan
Corrupted or missing system files are another reason why Explorer keeps crashing. So, you can use a built-in Windows tool known as the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) to check and fix these files. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Scan for Viruses with Windows Defender
The File Explorer can also act unusually if there are some viruses present on your PC. If you don’t have premium antivirus software, you can use the free Windows Defender Antivirus to scan for malware. It is fairly decent, and here’s how you can use it.
Update Windows
Lastly, an outdated Windows version also calls for many uninvited bugs and crashing errors on your PC. So, if it’s been a while since you last updated it, we now recommend updating it to the latest version. Not only does a new update include bug fixes, but it will also provide other improvements. Here’s how you can update your PC.
