Are you encountering the File Explorer not responding problem on your Windows operating system? If your answer is YES then you are in the right place.
File Explorer is a built-in Windows application that allows users to easily access the files and documents stored on their computer hard drive.
However, some Windows users reported the issue related to File Explorer and said File Explorer not responding.
If you are also facing the issue while using File Explorer to access your files and documents then don’t worry.
In this guide, we will provide you with some troubleshooting steps that will help you resolve the File Explorer not responding problem.
So without any further ado let’s get started:
How to Fix the File Explorer Not Responding Problem
If you are encountering the File Explorer not responding on Windows then you can fix it by using the troubleshooting steps mentioned below.
Restart the File Explorer
Bugs and glitches present in the device can cause various technical issues and errors.
So you can begin troubleshooting the File Explorer not responding problem by restarting the File Explorer.
To do so, completely close the File Explorer and then restart to see if the problem is fixed or not.
To completely close the file explorer, open the Task Manager and search for the File Explorer from the running processes.
Right-click on the File Explorer and select End Task.
Now wait for a few minutes and restart the File Explorer to check if your problem is fixed.
If the problem persists then try restarting your device as well.
Manually Restart the Explorer.exe Process via the Command Prompt
If you are unable to restart the File Explorer normally and encounter the File Explorer not responding problem then you can restart the File Explorer via Command prompt.
Here is how you can do so:
- Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run Prompt.
- Under the text box type CMD and hit Enter.
- This will open the Command Prompt.
- Now type
taskkill /f /im explorer.exeand hit Enter.
- This will completely close the Fire Explorer process.
- To start the file explorer, type
start explorer.exeand hit Enter. - That’s it.
Run System File Checker Scan
Sometimes users encounter issues like this because of corrupted or outdated system files.
In that case, you can fix your problem by performing a system file scan.
To do so, open the Command Prompt and type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
This will scan your system files and repair all the corrupted and missing system files.
Once the scanning process is completed, restart your computer to check if your problem is fixed or not.
Create a New User Account
On social media, some Windows users have reported that they can fix the File Explorer not responding problem by creating a new user account.
If you have tried scanning the system file and restarting the File Explorer but still facing the same problem then you should consider creating a new user account.
Update the System Software to the Latest Version
If you have not updated the system software for a long time and have pending updates then you can fix your problem by updating your Windows software to the latest version.
To update the Windows system software follow the steps written below:
- Click on the Windows Icon at the bottom left corner of your screen.
- Click on the Gear Icon to open up the settings.
- Under settings, select Update & Security.
- Now, click on the Check for Update option.
- This will automatically scan your system software and show you the Update option if the update is available.
- Now click on Update to update the system software to the latest version.
That’s all you need to know about how to fix the File Explorer not responding problem.