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How to fix Windows Explorer has stopped working error? (Solved)

This is a common problem for computer users that they get the error “Windows Explorer has stopped working” suddenly while working on their computer or playing games or Surfing Internet. This error is associated mostly with Windows XP, Vista and windows 7 Operating systems. In Windows 10 we didn’t notice till now. Sometimes this error displayed occasionally and some times this error get displayed in the loop and stop you doing anything. Here we will guide you step by step that how you can fix this error.

Windows Explorer has stopped working error
Windows Explorer has stopped working

What is the Cause of “Windows explorer has stopped working” error?

There could be many reason behind this error. But basic idea is that windows releases its security updates for Windows regularly, but many people ignores them and do not install the updates on their windows PC. So those users are more vulnerable to this error. SO here are some common causes of this issue.

  • Due to outdated security and without presence of a good antivirus software it is possible that your system is being infected with some virus, malware or trojan which can be the cause of this error. You should at least install a free antivirus.
  • Due to any corrupted device driver specially Video driver etc.
  • Due to Outdated Device drivers.
  • Any particular software or Game can also be the cause of this error.

How to fix “Windows Explorer has stopped working” Issue

Windows explorer has stopped working” mostly occurs due to a software / driver which is installed into your computer and it has got corrupted anyhow due to some reasons. Anyway, we have given below all the possible methods to fix this issue. If our all the method doesn’t help you, then let us know with the result of method 8.


Method 1: Scan with a good Antivirus and Antimalware program

The first step to fix this issue is to immediately scan with a good antivirus and malware software which is updated with the latest updates. You can use the HitmanPro or Malwarebytes Antimalware program to scan for any malware, And to scan for viruses use the Norton Antivirus or any other reputed antivirus software. Hopefully it will resolve your issue. If yes then buy a good antimalware and antivirus program for your computer to keep protected in future.


Method 2: Remove unwanted / corrupted 3rd party software’s menu from registry (Shellex – Content Menu).

Most of the cases of “Windows explorer has stopped working” issue occurs due to corrupted shellex menus. Some 3rd party softwares got corrupted suddenly anyhow. And after this corrupted shellex menu making conflicting with explorer.exe and occurs this error message “windows explorer has stopped working”. Follow the following steps to remove this corrupted menus.




  • Click on Start menu and click on search bar or RUN.
  • Type “regedit” in search bar. If you have windows xp then you can do this in run box.
  • Click on found regedit.exe. After click, it will prompt you an authorization, click on yes to start it.
  • Click on the arrow of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (expend it)
  • Then Click on the arrow of * (expend it)
  • Click on the arrow of shellex (expend it)
  • Click on the arrow of ContextMenuHandlers (expend it). The complete path is: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
  • Under ContextMenuHandlers you’ll see lots of keys. Remove the following keys
    • 7-zip
    • winrar
    • winrar32
    • winzip
    • Demon Tool
    • Daemon
    • Advance system care
  • And also remove other unwanted / corrupted 3rd party software keys (). To remove keys, right click on the key and click on delete.
  • Reboot your computer after done this.

Method 3: Remove unwanted / corrupted software entries from Startup

  • First we preferred that perform all following steps in safemode. So please start your computer in safemode and follow the following steps.
  • Press “window key + R” key (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG into the run box then click on OK. You’ll get a msconfig window.
  • In the msconfig window click on Startup tab, here you’ll get all the startup entries, so look on the list and then do Un-check the entries which is contains unwanted software. Also Un-check all the others entries which you found unwanted (You can uncheck all the 3rd party programs from here for time being). Then click on OK to apply all the changes.
remove-unwanted-startup

Method 4: Remove unwanted / corrupted software services from startup services

  • Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG” into the run box then click on OK. . You’ll get a msconfig window.
  • In the msconfig window click on Services tab, here you’ll get all the start-up services list, click on “Hide Windows Services” all the windows related services will be hidden. now it’s only display the 3rd party installed services, now look on the list and then do Un-check the service which have contains unwanted and corrupted software. Also Un-check all the unknown / unwanted services. then click on OK to apply all the changes.
remove-unwanted-services

Method 5: Do update your Windows drivers like; USB drivers / Network Adapter Drivers / Wifi Drivers etc.

Some time this issue occurs due to driver corruption. So please check your drivers and reinstall the drivers if you got any sign of that. You can also use automatic driver updater software to check, identify and update the drivers automatically.


Method 6: Check windows system file with system file checker (SFC)

If you are unable to fix the error using first method then try this method to fix any corrupted windows system files using SFC (system file checker) command. It is an official Microsoft tool available in windows to find and fix errors related to corrupted system files.
To run this tool you have to insert the original windows CD/DVD when asked by the SFC command. This command can only be run from the Command prompt (MS-DOS window).
Follow the steps to run SFC command.

  • Open the command prompt in elevated mode means run the command prompt as an administrator. You can this by searching CMD in start menu search bar and then right click and select “run as administrator”.
  • Choose continue if it prompt or enter the admin password for the admin if it asks.
  • Then type command sfc /scannow on the command prompt to start the scanning.
  • Insert the windows CD/DVD in the disk drive when it asks to insert the disk.
command prompt run in elevated mode
SFC command to fix windows explorer has stopped

Method 7: Install latest windows update

Install latest windows update or updating any device driver. During windows update windows will automatically update your common device drivers and other security updates. To install the latest updates turn on the windows update feature and check for the latest updates after connecting your computer the Internet. It will download and install the latest windows updates to the computer. It will fix your lots of issues and also help you to keep protected in future.

Install windows updates

Method 8: Find the “.dll” or “.exe” file name & path which is conflicting with windows explorer (Explorer.exe) and do appropriate action on it.

If your windows explorer issue has not fixed yet by following above methods, that means must a “.dll” or “.exe” file which is making conflicting with explorer.exe. We have to find that “.dll / .exe” file name & path through EVENTVIEWER (Windows system logs). Please follow below steps.

  • Right click on MyComputer and then click on Manage. You’ll get an another window. Click on arrow of the “Event Viewer” (Expand it) on that window. (You can also type “eventviewer” on search bar and click on found evenviewer)
  • Click on arrow of the “Windows Logs” (Expand it) on eventviewer.
  • Click on “Application” under windows Logs.
  • Now look on the right side pane, it have listed all the system logs here.
  • Now scroll down and find an error (Red Cross Error or explanation error) related to explorer.exe. Do double click on it to get the details if you found it. (That log was created when you got the error message (windows explorer has stopped working), so please find it by the “Time”).
  • Now you have the Error Message complete detail. Find the name & path of “.dll” or “.exe” on that detail.
  • Now you have the particular “.dll” or “.exe” file name & path which one is doing conflicting with explorer.exe.
  • Now Stop the conflicting via repair, rename and delete that file (Don’t delete or rename if it is part of system files because it may cause system failure). You have to do some research on that file before doing any action because it is very sensitive step. You can also share this detail with us for more help using below given comment form. Then we can help you more about it.
eventlogs

Method 9: Replace your computer RAM (Random Access Memory).

If nothing worked for you then we recommend you to please try the last thing and that is; replacing your RAM memory.

IF you are still getting the error message. It means the problem is with some other software installed or have somewhere else which can not detected corrected by the above methods. Then you can choose to restore the system from System restore point by restarting the system in Safe mode. Hopefully after all this you will get rid of your windows explorer has stopped working error. Please leave your feedback whether your issue resolved or not. It can help us to guide you and everyone better for this error.

We have no evidence that this error occur in Windows 10. So you may consider an in-place upgrade to Windows 10.

266 thoughts on “How to fix Windows Explorer has stopped working error? (Solved)”

  1. Abhisek Panda

    when i connect mobile to computer through usb cable,initiiallly it works then after some time the message is displaying on my computer is that “my computer is not responding”. this is one problem.Another problem is when i play on my computer after some time from starting of playing a message is occured on my computer “windows has stopped working”.In safemode non of my installed games are working.If solutions are available,please kindly send it me through email and this website.thank you.

    1. Maybe it happens due to virus / malware activity. Do scan your phone memory using good antivirus then reboot your phone and computer both and then reconnect. It should work!

  2. Good afternoon to all i have the same prob of not being able to run most of my programs or even to open folders (this happens both in safe mood & regular mood). I can only access some of my apps and run some programs when i start my pc in safe mood with cmd. therefore most of the solutions suggested are not applicable in my situation. I really wish someone could help me

    1. It seems like there is some problem in your computer registry permission side.
      Do one thing; we recommend you two programs to run on your computer.
      1. Trojan removal tool
      2. Combo Fix Tool
      Let us know if doesn’t fix after that.

      Thanks

      1. i wont be able to run any app or download anything. Windows explorer keeps crashing for almost everything i click on. If there is a way to run or download these software in safe mood with command prompt, i would like to learn ow

        1. Sorry to say, there is no option to download these softwares in safemode with command prompt. You can do one thing, you can run “SFC” command in command prompt. Here is the steps to run this command: Open command prompt, type “sfc /scannow”, press Enter.
          Do one more thing, Do clean boot your computer once (Remove all the unwanted programs from startup) because this is only the way where you can get rid of this issue.

          Please answer my questions.
          1. Is your computer able to run in “safemode with networking”
          2. Is your computer able to run in simple “safemode”
          3. Is your computer working well in simple safemode?
          Thanks

  3. I was regularly (three out of four times) getting the error “explorer not responding” when I was trying to open a new folder or when I was right clicking any folder or file. I had dropbox installed on my PC.
    I solved the problem by first opening the dropbox before using the windows explorer.

  4. I had this problem for a year and a half. I tried just about every online advisory and youtube video on this, and nothing did the trick. One tutorial said that the problem is almost always in the Registry Editor, in the set Hkey_classes_root/*/shellex. None of the known trouble-causing regs were in there (such as 7 Zip) but on a hunch (and after copying the registry in case I deleted something vital) I got rid of Apple’s photostream.exe. Worked like a dream ever since.

  5. In my case, the “Windows explorer has stopped working” error was caused by Microsoft Outlook. Every time I had this error, I realized that Outlook was open. I stopped using Outlook, and the error messages stopped too.

    Now I manage my e-mail accounts using the software Thunderbird, and this was one of the best things I did in my whole life – so much better than Outlook!!

    1. Just to add that, if you’re using Thunderbird, do carry out periodic backups with Mozilla’s recommended utility, Mozbackup. If you get caught (as I have been) where suddenly you can see all the Thunderbird messages but they are ’empty’, i.e. without content, the most recent backup will get you out of a fix.

  6. My IE will start up fine in safe mode and never crash but keeps closing in regular mode. I’ve run every program imaginable. Any suggestions why its ok in safe mode?

  7. Dolly Thakker

    Hi, i hv window 7 in my pc. I can’t aply any solution of window explorer have stopped working as every 5 second dialogue box appears showing check online for solution or restart the program. I cant do anything in my pc…plz suggest me.

  8. The windows explorer window seems to be on a continuous loop, have tried restarting in safe mode, all the different command prompts have been tried and restoring to an earlier date has been tried also to no avail. Is there another way of getting rid of this looping window??

  9. With you can open taskmanager and review which process is getting all the resources….
    If Exlorer self gets all the resources, then kill it, and use the menu of this Taskmanager to start a new instance of explorer.exe …
    At least you can get to the start menu/ desktop / filemanager etc.
    And you might search for what happened in the eventvwr.exe..

  10. problem resolved. in my case caused by flash player on my web browser firefox.
    full scan with spybot search n destroy. after full scan and clean, error removed. Window explorer has stopped running…appcrash error. Hope this will help.

  11. Robert Brandt

    Update, this only happens if the folder being moved is selected first. If I right click the folder to be moved without first selecting it, Explorer won’t crash.

  12. Robert Brandt

    This happens to me when I move a file folder, then I get a message saying the file folder is no longer where it was, and Explorer crashes and restarts.

  13. hi guys
    I install updat for my win and scan with antivirus and i check action center as you say
    but now this problem reminded…

    please say what should i do?

    1. boot in safe mode (press f8 when pc start), go to control panel, user account, manage with another account, create new account and restart pc, logging with new create account- now windows explorer stopped working message solve.

  14. malwarebyte worked perfectly and resolved the problems of errors after scanning. a million thanks to you guys

  15. I had this problem as I right-clicked on a file or folder somewhere in Windows Explorer. After cleaning up my desktop environment [replacing and deleting files and folders], this problem was somehow “fixed”.

  16. Cause of this problem is : your hard disk is full. Please remove or delete file from C disk drive.

  17. Had the same problem as all those mentioned above. This is how I fixed the problem with “Windows Explorer Stopped working”. The problem started after I downed the program “DropBox”. When I tried to import pictures from my Samsung camera it say Windows Explorer stopped working, I tried every thing recommended and nothing worked. Till I looked at DropBox properties and it said that the program was not compatible with Windows 7-64 bit. So I removed it and Windows Explorer now works. I suggest one should look at what programs have been downloaded, their properties to see if it conflicts with Windows 7. If they do remove them. Hope this works for you.

  18. Interesting cures for this problem. I removed the ‘Network Adapter’ driver called TAP-Open VPN V9 and the error when away.

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