Navigating through your computer’s files and folders is an essential part of your daily workflow. However, encountering a broken File Explorer on Windows 10 can be frustrating and hinder your productivity. Fear not! In this article, we will explore effective solutions to fix File Explorer and restore its smooth functionality, allowing you to effortlessly manage your files once again.
What Is File Explorer
File Explorer is a file management application in Windows 10 that allows users to navigate and manage files and folders on their computer. If File Explorer is not working correctly, there are a few methods you can try to fix the issue.
First, try restarting your PC. Sometimes a simple restart can resolve minor issues.
If that doesn’t work, try opening File Explorer using a different method. You can do this by pressing the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard or by right-clicking the Start button and selecting File Explorer from the menu.
Another method is to use the Command Prompt. Press the Windows logo key + X on your keyboard, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan your system files for any errors and attempt to fix them.
If none of these steps work, you can try resetting File Explorer. To do this, open the Settings app by pressing the Windows logo key + I on your keyboard, then go to System > Display > Advanced display settings > Display adapter properties > Troubleshoot > Change settings. Click on the Reset button and follow the prompts to reset File Explorer.
Note: These steps are specific to Windows 10, but they may also work for other operating systems like Windows 11.
Restart File Explorer in Task Manager
To fix a broken File Explorer on Windows 10, you can restart it using Task Manager. Here’s how:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager window, click on the File menu.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Run new task.
4. In the “Create new task” window, type explorer.exe and click OK.
This will restart File Explorer, which may resolve any issues you were experiencing. Keep in mind that any open windows or programs will close during this process, so make sure to save your work beforehand.
If restarting File Explorer doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to troubleshoot further or consider other solutions.
Manually Restart the Explorer.exe Process via Command Prompt
If you’re experiencing issues with your File Explorer on Windows 10, a quick and effective solution is to manually restart the Explorer.exe process using Command Prompt. This can help resolve problems such as unresponsive windows, missing icons, or issues with the taskbar.
To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager, click on “File” in the top left corner.
3. Choose “Run new task” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the “Create new task” window, type “cmd” and check the box that says “Create this task with administrative privileges.”
5. Click on “OK” to open the Command Prompt.
6. In the Command Prompt window, type “taskkill /f /im explorer.exe” and press Enter.
7. Wait a moment for the process to end.
8. Finally, type “explorer.exe” and press Enter to restart the Explorer.exe process.
After completing these steps, your File Explorer should be refreshed, and any issues you were experiencing should be resolved. Note that this method can also be used for other versions of Windows, such as Windows 11 or older operating systems.
Remember to save any open files or documents before restarting the Explorer.exe process, as it will close all Explorer windows.
python
import os
def check_file_explorer():
# Check if file explorer is accessible
try:
os.startfile("explorer.exe")
print("File explorer is functioning.")
except OSError:
print("File explorer is broken or inaccessible.")
def fix_file_explorer():
# Restart the Windows Explorer process
try:
os.system("taskkill /f /im explorer.exe")
os.system("start explorer.exe")
print("File explorer restarted successfully.")
except OSError:
print("Failed to restart file explorer.")
# Usage
check_file_explorer()
# Output: File explorer is functioning.
fix_file_explorer()
# Output: File explorer restarted successfully.
Please note that this code assumes you are using a Windows operating system and have the necessary permissions to restart the file explorer process. It’s important to remember that this is a basic example and may not address all possible issues with a broken file explorer.
Run System File Checker Scan
To fix File Explorer when it’s broken on Windows 10, you can run a System File Checker (SFC) scan. This tool checks for and repairs corrupted system files that may be causing the issue.
Here’s how to run an SFC scan:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time.
4. Once the scan is finished, restart your computer.
Running an SFC scan can help resolve issues with File Explorer not responding, missing icons, or other problems related to the file manager application. If the issue persists, you may need to further troubleshoot or seek additional support.
Remember to keep your Windows operating system up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft to ensure optimal performance.
Clear File Explorer History
To clear the File Explorer history on Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or by searching for “File Explorer” in the search box on the taskbar.
2. In File Explorer, click on the “View” tab at the top of the window.
3. In the “Show/Hide” section of the ribbon, check the box next to “Hidden items” to display hidden files and folders.
4. Now, navigate to the following location: %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\
5. Once you’re in the “Recent” folder, select all the files and folders inside and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard. This will clear the File Explorer history.
6. Finally, close File Explorer and restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
Change Display Settings
To change display settings in Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings” from the context menu.
2. In the Display settings window, you can adjust the resolution, orientation, and scale of your display. Use the slider or dropdown menus to make the desired changes.
3. To change the brightness, click on “Brightness and color” in the left sidebar. Adjust the slider to your preferred level.
4. If you have multiple monitors, you can arrange them by clicking on “Multiple displays” in the left sidebar. Choose the desired arrangement from the options provided.
5. If you want to extend or duplicate your display to another monitor, click on “Advanced display settings” at the bottom of the window.
6. In the Advanced display settings window, you can choose the monitor you want to adjust and make further changes, such as screen resolution and refresh rate.
Remember to click “Apply” after making any changes to see the effects on your display.
Extend System Partition If It Is Full
If your system partition on Windows 10 is full, you can easily extend it to free up space. Here’s how:
1. Open the Disk Management tool by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Disk Management” from the menu.
2. Locate your system partition, which is usually labeled as “C:” and right-click on it.
3. Select “Extend Volume” from the context menu.
4. In the Extend Volume Wizard, click “Next” to proceed.
5. Specify the amount of space you want to add to your system partition. You can either enter the amount manually or use the maximum available space. Click “Next” when done.
6. Review the summary of your selected options and click “Finish” to start the partition extension process.
7. Wait for the process to complete, and then close the Disk Management tool.
By extending your system partition, you can ensure that it has enough space to accommodate your files and prevent any issues related to a full system drive.
Create a New User Account
To create a new user account on Windows 10 and fix a broken File Explorer, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Accounts” and then “Family & other users” in the left-hand menu.
3. Under “Other users,” click on “Add someone else to this PC.”
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new user account.
5. Once the new account is created, sign out of your current account and sign in to the new account.
6. Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon on the taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + E.
7. If File Explorer is still not working properly, try restarting your computer and then reopening it.
8. If the issue persists, consider performing a system update to ensure you have the latest Windows updates installed.
9. Additionally, you can try running the Windows Search troubleshooting tool to fix any search-related issues.
10. If all else fails, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.
Remember to save any important files or documents before attempting any troubleshooting steps.
Update Windows 10 to the Latest Version
To update Windows 10 to the latest version, follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and click on the Settings icon.
2. In the Settings window, select “Update & Security.”
3. Click on “Windows Update” in the left sidebar.
4. Click on the “Check for updates” button.
5. If updates are available, click on the “Download and install” button.
6. Wait for the updates to download and install on your device.
7. Restart your computer if prompted.
Updating Windows 10 can help fix issues with File Explorer, such as when it’s broken or not responding. If the issue persists, try these additional troubleshooting steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Task Manager.”
2. In the Task Manager window, locate “Windows Explorer” under the Processes tab.
3. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “Restart.”
If File Explorer continues to have issues, you may need to perform a system scan or contact Microsoft support for further assistance. Remember to always keep your operating system and device drivers up to date for optimal performance.
Restore Windows 10 to an Earlier Date
To restore Windows 10 to an earlier date, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “rstrui” and press Enter to open the System Restore window.
3. Click “Next” and select a restore point from the list that appears.
4. Review the details and click “Next” to proceed.
5. Confirm the restore point selection and click “Finish” to start the restoration process.
6. Your computer will restart and revert to the chosen restore point.
If File Explorer is still broken after the restore, try these additional steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
2. Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter to run the System File Checker.
3. Wait for the scan to complete and restart your computer.
These steps should help resolve any issues with File Explorer on your Windows 10 computer.
What causes Windows Explorer not to respond to errors?
When Windows Explorer stops responding, it can be frustrating, but there are a few common causes and solutions to try. One possible cause is a corrupt file or folder that is causing Explorer to freeze. To fix this, try running the System File Checker tool by following these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
2. In the command prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete and restart your computer.
Another potential cause is a third-party software conflict. To troubleshoot this, try booting your computer in Safe Mode and see if the issue persists. If it doesn’t, then a third-party program may be causing the problem. You can try disabling or uninstalling recently installed software to see if that resolves the issue.
Lastly, outdated or incompatible device drivers can also lead to Explorer not responding. To address this, you can update your drivers by following these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager”.
2. Expand the categories and right-click on the device you want to update.
3. Select “Update driver” and follow the prompts to complete the process.
By addressing these common causes, you should be able to fix File Explorer when it’s broken on Windows 10.
Automatically restart the Windows Explorer in the Task Manager
To automatically restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager when it’s broken on Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. In the Processes tab, scroll down to find “Windows Explorer”.
3. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “End task”. Don’t worry, this won’t shut down your computer.
4. Click on “File” in the top left corner of Task Manager and select “Run new task”.
5. In the Create new task window, type “explorer.exe” and click “OK”.
6. Windows Explorer will now restart, resolving any issues it had.
7. If the problem persists, consider restarting your computer entirely.
Remember to save any unsaved work before restarting Windows Explorer. This quick and simple process can help fix various file explorer issues on Windows 10.
Manually restart Windows Explorer with the Command Prompt
If your File Explorer is broken on Windows 10, you can manually restart Windows Explorer using the Command Prompt. Here’s how:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager, go to the File menu and select Run new task.
3. Type cmd and check the box that says Create this task with administrative privileges.
4. Click OK to open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
5. In the Command Prompt, type taskkill /f /im explorer.exe and press Enter. This will force close Windows Explorer.
6. To restart Windows Explorer, type explorer.exe and press Enter.
7. Close the Command Prompt and check if File Explorer is now working properly.
Remember to follow the instructions exactly as given. Manually restarting Windows Explorer can help resolve issues with File Explorer not responding, missing icons, or other problems.
