How to Restart File Explorer in Windows 10/11 | NEW

File Explorer is great for navigating, organizing, and accessing files on your computer. However, there may be times when you need to restart File Explorer to resolve specific issues or refresh its functionality.

重新启动文件资源管理器在多种情况下可能会有所帮助，例如：

• ❌Resolving unresponsive or frozen File Explorer windows.
• ?️Fixing glitches or display issues within the File Explorer interface.
• ?Applying changes to system settings requiring File Explorer to be restarted.
• ✅Addressing performance issues related to File Explorer.

If you're using Windows, you might encounter an issue with File Explorer not responding or functioning slowly. This guide will illustrate how to restart File Explorer effectively and regain smooth file management.

Let's get started and give you full control over your File Explorer! We'll explore some solutions you can employ to restart it.

Fix 1: Stop Windows Explorer in Task Manager and Restart

This is an excellent method if you've encountered glitches or performance issues with File Explorer. Translation: This is an excellent approach if you've experienced glitches or performance problems with the File Explorer.

Here's how to stop the Windows Explorer before restarting it in Windows 11:

Step 1. Go to the "taskbar" and right-click on it.

Step 2. From the options displayed, select "Task Manager".

Step 3. In the Task Manager window, navigate to the "Processes" tab, and then scroll down to find "Windows Explorer."

Step 4. Right-click on "Windows Explorer" next, and then select "End task" from the menu.

Step 5. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click "End process." Your screen will go black, and the taskbar will disappear, but don't panic.

After that, you can click on any folder to restart the Windows File Explorer. This method comes in handy when the File Explorer is not responding in Windows. Share this simplest solution on social media to assist more readers!

Solution 2: Quit and Restart Explorer.exe in Task Manager

This section will explore another effective solution: quitting and reopening Explorer.exe through Task Manager.

If you've run into issues with File Explorer, such as it not opening or if the regular restart didn't solve the problem, this method could be exactly what you need to refresh the Explorer process.

Let's dive in and examine the troubleshooting steps to revitalize File Explorer.

Step 1. Open the Task Manager by pressing "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" or right-clicking the Windows icon in the taskbar.

Right-click the search box and choose Task Manager.

Step 2. Under the "Processes" tab, scroll down to find "Windows Explorer."

Step 3. Right-click on "Windows Explorer" and select "End task".

Step 4. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click "End process". Your screen will go black, and the taskbar will disappear indefinitely, so don't panic.

Restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager:

Step 1. Open the Task Manager using the method mentioned above.

Step 2. Next, go to the "File" menu and choose "Run new task."

Step 3. In the "Create new task" dialog box, type explorer.exe.

Step 4. Choose "OK".

Once you've done this, you'll see a quick flash, and your desktop and taskbar will return as normal.

Fix 3: How to Restart File Explorer using Command Prompt

In this section, we will utilize a series of commands to terminate the Explorer.exe process and subsequently initiate it again. This constitutes a manual method to restart File Explorer.

If the previous solutions haven't resolved your issues, this method might be the answer you're seeking.

Let's explore the efficient steps to restart File Explorer using the Command Prompt.

Step 1. You need to search for "cmd" in the Windows search bar. Then, open the "Command Prompt."

Step 2. Type the command taskkill /f /im explorer.exe, and then press the "Enter" key.

Step 3. To run it again, type start explorer.exe and press "Enter".

After running the first command, your screen will go black. Enter the second command to return to your desktop.

Fix 4: Create a Batch File to Restart File Explorer To create a batch file that will automatically restart the File Explorer, follow these steps: 1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select `New` > `Text Document`. 2. Name the text document as `RestartFileExplorer.bat` (make sure to include the `.bat` extension). 3. Open the text document with a text editor like Notepad. 4. Inside the text document, type the following command: ``` taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F start explorer.exe ``` 5. Save the changes and close the text editor. 6. A prompt may appear asking if you want to change the file extension; click `Yes`. 7. Now, whenever you need to restart File Explorer, simply double-click the `RestartFileExplorer.bat` file. This batch file will first terminate the File Explorer process and then immediately start it again, effectively restarting it.

A batch file is a text file containing a series of commands that can be executed using utilities like CMD or PowerShell. They are identified by their .bat extension.

Step 1. Go to the "Windows search bar" and locate the "Notepad" application.

Step 2. Now, enter the following commands:

Step 3. Go to "File" and choose "Save As" from the menu to save your file.

Step 4. In the "Save as type" section, select "All Files" and add .bat at the end of the file name.

Now, simply double-click the file to run the commands. Your screen may briefly go black as File Explorer restarts.

Restore Missing Files Due to Restarting File Explorer

Don't worry if you accidentally delete an essential file while restarting File Explorer. You can simply use Data Recovery Wizard tools to recover it.

Data Recovery Wizard offers a swift solution for various data loss scenarios, enabling prompt file recovery without the necessity of a full drive scan.

The software can recover deleted files, including documents, photos, videos, music, and email. It efficiently retrieves files, selectively restores missing components, and effectively repairs corrupted videos with a thorough scan.

If the recovery process is unsuccessful, no fees will be applied. You also have the option to preview files prior to restoration, effortlessly browsing through folders, akin to the functionality of Explorer. When you come across issues like File Explorer not displaying files, it could be due to accidental deletion. In such cases, utilize the file recovery tool to securely retrieve missing files.

Step 1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool. Select the drive where you lost your files and initiate the scanning process. This software enables you to recover lost data from various devices, including HDD, SSD, USB drives, SD cards, pen drives, cameras, and so on.

Step 2. Browse the complete scan results. You can select the file type you need by clicking on the file type filter. The data recovery software supports over 1000 file types, including photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, and many more.

Step 3. Select the files you want to preview. Click "Recover" and set a storage location to save the recovered data.

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Restarting File Explorer in Windows 10/11 is quite straightforward. Bear in mind that you can accomplish this task using several approaches, such as via Task Manager, Command Prompt, or by creating a batch file. These methods will assist in resolving issues with File Explorer.

If you've lost some files during a restart, don't forget to download the tool Data Recovery Wizard. This software will recover your data in no time.

"Windows File Explorer Restart Frequently Asked Questions"

In this section, you'll find out how to restart File Explorer.

1. How can I restart File Explorer using command lines?

To restart File Explorer using command lines, you need to utilize the Command Prompt.

Step 1. Press "Win" + "X," and then select "Windows Terminal" or "Command Prompt" from the menu.

Step 2. Type the command taskkill /f /im explorer.exe and then press "Enter." This command will forcefully terminate the File Explorer process.

Step 3. Next, type starts explorer.exe and press "Enter." This command will restart the File Explorer process.

2. Can I reset File Explorer to its default settings?

Yes, you can reset File Explorer to its default settings.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the "View" tab.

Step 2. Click "Options" on the far right to open the Folder Options dialog box.

Step 3. Navigate to the "View" tab in the Folder Options window.

Step 4. Click on the "Reset Folders" button under the "Folder Views" section.

Step 5. Click "Yes" to confirm the action.

3. How do I restart Windows File Explorer in Task Manager? To restart Windows File Explorer in Task Manager, follow these steps: 1. Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` on your keyboard to open Task Manager. 2. If the Task Manager appears in compact mode, click on "More details" at the bottom of the window. 3. In the Task Manager window, locate "Windows Explorer" or "Explorer.exe" in the "Processes" or "Details" tab. 4. Click on "Windows Explorer" once to select it. 5. Click on the "Restart" button at the bottom-right corner of the Task Manager window. It looks like two arrows forming a circle. 6. Windows File Explorer will now restart, and any open File Explorer windows will close and reopen. This process is useful when you encounter issues with File Explorer and need to refresh its state.

To restart Windows, the process is straightforward using File Explorer or Task Manager.

Step 1. Right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the menu.

Step 2. In the Task Manager window, navigate to the "Processes" tab, scroll down, and locate "Windows Explorer."

Step 3. Right-click "Windows Explorer"

Step 4. Finally, select "Restart" from the menu.

This action will terminate the File Explorer process and automatically restart it.