In this article, we will discuss different ways to restart Windows Explorer to fix the issues without restarting the system.
What is Windows Explorer/File Explorer
Windows Explorer, also known as the File Explorer is the soul of Windows. It is the User Interface through which a user connects to all the applications and the services the Windows is hosting. The process running behind Windows Explorer is Explorer.exe. It is also the process that runs the Desktop, taskbar, notification tray, Start Menu, all of the Dialog Boxes and Prompts, and controller Interfaces. Without the explorer.exe process, Windows would simply not be operatable under a graphical user interface.
How to restart Windows Explorer
There are ways to restart the explorer.exe process. Let’s start with the basics and work our way up from there.
Restart Windows Explorer using the Task Manager
Windows Task Manager is a resource management tool for Windows that can manage processes, tune up performance, and manage Windows startup and services. It is also used to kill applications and processes that have become unresponsive or would not entirely quit and keep running in the background.
Stop and start Windows Explorer manually
NOTE: Steps 1, 2 & 3 can also be achieved altogether by holding down Ctrl + Shift and then right-clicking on an empty space on the Taskbar. Click on Exit explorer to kill the explorer.exe process. Then continue with steps 4, 5 & 6 to restart the process, by accessing the Task Manager with the shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If you create a New Task by entering explorer.exe, while it is already running and can be seen in the Details tab, it will only open a new Windows Explorer window. This would not be equivalent to restarting the explorer.exe process.
Restart Windows Explorer using command line
The explorer.exe process can be restarted to achieve the same effects with the help of two simple commands. These can be run on both Command Prompt and PowerShell. Launch Run by pressing the Windows Key + R and enter:
cmd for Command Promptpowershell for Windows PowerShell (Or pwsh for PowerShell Core)
Restart Windows Explorer using an automatic batch file
It is not wise to restart the explorer.exe process very often and only recommended to do so when facing lag, or feeling that the operating system’s performance is not ideal, or effectively enforce some changes which you have made to the system that requires a system reboot. Moreover, it is not always necessary that a process reboot is a perfect alternative for a system reboot, but there is no harm in trying it before going for a complete computer reboot. Nonetheless, always ensure that all the data is saved in applications and programs utilizing the process, as they are bound to shut down when restarting the explorer.exe process. Did you find this method effective to get rid of everyday lag and system slowness? Also see:
4 Ways To Force Quit Apps And Programs In Windows4 Ways to Run Task Manager as Administrator in Windows 11/10How To Restart Or Reset Start Menu In Windows 108 Ways to open Computer Management Console (compmgmt.msc) in Windows6 Ways To Open Run Command Box In Windows
