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.

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- Due to outdated security and without presence of a good antivirus software it is possible that your system is being infected with some virus, malware or trojan which can be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- Due to Outdated Device drivers.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.
- Run an windows repair tool ComboFix
- HitmanPro
- Malwarebytes
- Norton Antivirus
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.

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.

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.


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.

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.

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.
Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 22/01/2018 12:08:33 p.m.
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: EmmadM-Laptop.JDT.local
Description:
Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c44cc4
Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x06b109a8
Faulting process id: 0xf78
Faulting application start time: 0x01d3930cb02b6af2
Faulting application path: C:\windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: unknown
Report Id: 0041ac19-ff00-11e7-a8bb-e8e0b7e0975d
Event Xml:
1000
2
100
0x80000000000000
14347
Application
EmmadM-Laptop.JDT.local
Explorer.EXE
6.1.7601.23537
57c44cc4
unknown
0.0.0.0
00000000
c0000005
06b109a8
f78
01d3930cb02b6af2
C:\windows\Explorer.EXE
unknown
0041ac19-ff00-11e7-a8bb-e8e0b7e0975d
Can you please help me fix this issue
UNINSTALLING WINZIP 12 is what finally fixed this on BOTH of my Windows machines.
Thanks for sharing the info. 🙂
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: explorer.exe
Application Version: 6.1.7601.23537
Application Timestamp: 57c44cc4
Fault Module Name: ntdll.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.1.7601.23915
Fault Module Timestamp: 59b94a7d
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0001f94c
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
This is a widows file. So you can only repair this file. Follow the windows repair thing to get it repaired.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: InPageError
Error Status Code: c000009c
Faulting Media Type: 00000003
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: a7aa
Additional Information 2: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d
Additional Information 3: a7aa
Additional Information 4: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d
Hi when I try to sent my pictures to usb flash drive, the message window explorer has stopped working
Faulting application name:Explorer.EXE, version:6.1.7601.23537, time stamp:0x57c44cc4
Faulting module name:SHELL32.dll, version:6.1.7601.23806, time stamp:0x59132df1
Exception code:0xc0000005
Fault offset:0x0008e88f
Faulting process id:0x9e4
Faulting application start time:0x01d32bfa3fba03d0
Faulting allication path:C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path:C:\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll
Report Id:43a6c280-97f7-11e7-8a25-81ad03035f4d
Appreciate your suggestion. Thank you
There must be a problem in “right click menu.” Because Shell.dll is directly related to “Right click menu.” What you need to do is, you need to follow above given “Method 2”. Remove all the 3rd party entry from “ContentMenuHandler” as given in method 2
Whenever I’m try to apply your methods my window says “The device is not ready.”
I found something called encription and deleted it was it a bad move?
I have uninstalled mywinlocker it it solved my explorer enabling my file transfers and it did work. Thank you guys!! My question is why did it even start this any way. i just woke up and it just stopped working. after reading this though it totally helped me out.
Maybe its files gone corrupted due to computer reboot unexpectedly.
Hi, This is the error message i found in event viewer, please tell me how to solve it, i am dying to know. Thanks!
Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7601.17567, time stamp: 0x4d672ee4
Faulting module name: ASUSWSShellExt64.dll, version: 1.1.0.27, time stamp: 0x4c7f631d
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00000000000051da
Faulting process id: 0x%9
Faulting application start time: 0x%10
Faulting application path: %11
Faulting module path: %12
Report Id: %13
Reinstall Asus drivers & softwares. You can fix this while removing Asus entry from shells.
Thank you very much after a long time it worked and stopped looping …for others help I stopped all services at start up leaving Windows services…once again thanks
You’re most welcome!! Happy to know that you have fixed your issue.
Many thanks for all of this.
My Winlocker was the issue stopping me copy/paste files too and from external drives.
Removed My Winlocker, restart, now tickety boo.
Hello tech expert I am facing problem due to thumbnail.dll
1)Window is constantly restarting so cant uninstall any app even in safe mode
2)No icons are coming in desktop
3)i have tried all the method listed above nothing worked
PLEASE HELP!!
*thumbnailcache.dll
I’m having a Windows Explorer crash problem, usually when I try to use the control panel. Here’s the event log:
Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c44cc4
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.23796, time stamp: 0x59028e17
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0006fcca
Faulting process id: 0xf30
Faulting application start time: 0x01d2df3fce754a3b
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 646a2308-4b38-11e7-9320-001d72e9a4a4
Any help would be great! Thanks in advance.
ntdll.dll is a system file. Actually its main cause is still diffrent. You can do one thing, uninstall and then reinstall your windows device drivers, like: wifi driver, video driver, lan driver etc. Because this type of issue usually caused by these.
Thank you for the response. Which ones should I uninstall/reinstall and how do I do this safely?
Cheers,
S
Have carefully followed all the steps you have listed above but still couldnt fix ‘window explorer stopped working’ error. i cant open any file on my system either. Working on the step 8, the error file i got has this details.
file description: NT Layer DLL
Company: microsoft corporation
file version: 6.1.7801.17514
what should i do pls
Hi I need help fixing this error every time i want to copy files on and off my USB flash drive/ SD card, it says “windows has stopped working”
Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c44cc4
Faulting module name:SHELL32.dll, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c450f4
Exception code: 0x0000005
Faulting process id: 0x1220
Faulting application start time: 0x01d2d0b440f914ba
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll
Report Id: a0335efc-3cb8-11e7-9ec0-705ab6f8c8ea
Remove shells extra items, it would be fixed.
C:\Windows\system32\PhotoMetadataHandler.dll is the conflicting file.
I am usingwindows 7 starter SP1 32 bit OS
I tried all of those on my Acer Aspire and none worked.
Uninstalled “MyWinLocker” – problem solved!
I have uninstalled “MyWinLocker”. It solved the problem
Windows explorer has stopped working
Problem event name:InPageError
Teror status code:c000009c
Faulting media type:00000003
OS version:6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Local ID:1033
Additional Information 1:52b2
Additional Information 2:52b2f0635e472e8edaaf565281f11a8c
Additional Information 3:cce0
Additional Information 4:cce0a699bca66c6a3ba558267d7e1b3
This is my error which says “WINDOWS EXPLORER HAS STOPPED WORKING”
Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c44efe
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.23714, time stamp: 0x58bf89e8
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000bf3e2
Faulting process id: 0x1160
Faulting application start time: 0x01d2c24153ccacc9
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 96848d1a-2e34-11e7-9cca-08edb9902ba6
Any solutions for this?
Do start your computer in safemode and then let us know are you getting the same error message or not.
Actually “ntdll.dll” is not the main cause of this problem, the root cause is must be different. Do uninstall and then re-install WIFI, Printer, Video driver to sought out this problem.
Here is the error I am getting for “Windows Has Stopped Working:”
Faulting application name: Explorer.EXE, version: 6.1.7601.23537, time stamp: 0x57c44efe
Faulting module name: psdprotect.dll, version: 3.1.76.0, time stamp: 0x4aa9003b
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00000000000012de
Faulting process id: 0x146c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d2accb834f6bd4
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\EgisTec\MyWinLocker 3\x64\psdprotect.dll
Report Id: dc845e4d-18be-11e7-9232-00262d8b608c
Can you offer any suggestions? Thank you!
Just uninstall “EgisTec” program. It will be fixed. You can install it later if you need.