Efficiently Revive Your Windows Experience- Learn How to Restart Windows Explorer

How to Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a crucial component of the Windows operating system, responsible for managing files, folders, and other system resources. However, it may occasionally encounter issues that cause it to become unresponsive or slow down. Restarting Windows Explorer can help resolve these problems and improve system performance. In this article, we will discuss various methods to restart Windows Explorer on your Windows PC.

Method 1: Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager

One of the simplest ways to restart Windows Explorer is by using the Task Manager. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the “Processes” tab.
3. Find “Windows Explorer” in the list of processes.
4. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “Restart.”
5. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “End Task” to proceed.

Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer using Command Prompt

Another method to restart Windows Explorer is by using the Command Prompt. Follow these steps:

1. Press `Win + X` and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the Command Prompt or PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
“`
3. After the command executes, type the following command to start Windows Explorer again:
“`
start explorer.exe
“`
4. Close the Command Prompt or PowerShell window.

Method 3: Restart Windows Explorer using Task Scheduler

You can also use Task Scheduler to restart Windows Explorer. Here’s how:

1. Press `Win + R`, type “taskschd.msc” in the Run dialog, and press Enter to open Task Scheduler.
2. In the Task Scheduler Library, right-click on “Task Scheduler (Local)” and select “Create Task.”
3. In the “Create Task” window, go to the “General” tab and provide a name and description for the task.
4. Go to the “Triggers” tab and click “New.” Set the trigger to “At startup” and click “OK.”
5. Go to the “Actions” tab and click “New.” In the “Program/script” field, enter “explorer.exe” and click “OK.”
6. Click “OK” to save the task.
7. Close Task Scheduler.

Method 4: Restart Windows Explorer using a Registry Editor

If you prefer to use the Registry Editor, follow these steps:

1. Press `Win + R`, type “regedit” in the Run dialog, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following key:
“`
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
“`
3. In the right pane, right-click on an empty space and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
4. Name the new value “AutoRestart.”
5. Double-click on the “AutoRestart” value and set its value data to “1.”
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

By using any of these methods, you can restart Windows Explorer and potentially resolve any issues you may be experiencing with the file manager.