7 ways to troubleshoot if your File Explorer is freezing in Windows 11
JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Restart File Explorer
- Restart your computer
- Disable or uninstall antimalware software
- Clear the File Explorer cache
- Change File Explorer options
- Perform an SFC Scan
- Check for updates
Redeem now - If your File Explorer is freezing in Windows 11, try to restart it in Task Manager, or restart your computer entirely.
- You can also clear the File Explorer cache and perform an SFC scan using the Command Prompt.
- Here are seven ways to fix File Explorer when it’s freezing or crashing.
It's almost impossible to use Windows 11 productively without making frequent use of File Explorer, so if you find that File Explorer is crashing or not responding, your productivity can quickly come to a screeching halt. Thankfully, there are some relatively simple fixes for problems with a problematic File Explorer.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.Restart File Explorer
If File Explorer has recently started to crash or become unresponsive, it could be a temporary glitch that's easily solved by closing and restarting File Explorer. To do that, you'll need to open Task Manager.
In older versions of Windows, you could open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar, but that no longer works. Instead, press Ctrl+Alt+Del, and then choose Task Manager. In the Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the list of apps and then click it. In the lower right corner, click Restart.
Restart your computer
In many cases, restarting File Explorer will fix the problem. But if it does not, you might be able to resolve the issue by restarting your entire PC. Do this especially if it has been a long time since you have shut off your computer. Click Start, then the Power icon, and then choose Restart.
Disable or uninstall antimalware software
Every computer should have antivirus or antimalware software running — it's an essential safety and security precaution. But if you're using a third party antimalware program, it might be conflicting with File Explorer. To test if this is the issue, uninstall it, restart your computer, and see if the problem persists. If File Explorer works normally, switch to the built-in Windows Defender or try a different third-party antivirus suite.
Clear the File Explorer cache
It's possible that some data in the File Explorer cache has become corrupted, interfering with the computer's ability to run File Explorer properly. Here is how to clear the cache:
1. Click Start and then type "Control." Click Control Panel when it appears in the search results.
2. In the search box, type "file" and then click File Explorer Options in the search results.
3. In the File Explorer Options dialog box, go to the Privacy section and click Clear. Confirm you want to do this by clicking OK.
Change File Explorer options
It's also possible that a specific File Explorer setting could be interfering with its ability to work properly. If there's something wrong with your Quick Access shortcuts in File Explorer, it could hang or freeze on startup — so we should change it to open to your PC view.
1. Click Start and then type "Control." Click Control Panel when it appears in the search results.
2. In the search box, type "file" and then click File Explorer Options in the search results.
3. In the File Explorer Options dialog box, to the right of Open File Explorer to:, change the dropdown menu from Quick Access to This PC.
4. Click OK.
Perform an SFC Scan
If you have gotten this far and still haven't resolved the problems with File Explorer, run the SFC (System File Checker) Scan, a tool you can access from the command prompt.
1. Click Start and then type "cmd."
2. When you see Command Prompt in the search results, right click and choose Run as administrator. If promoted, click Yes to confirm you want to do this.
3. In the command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Let the scan run and then restart your computer when it's done.
Check for updates
While it's relatively unlikely to solve File Explorer problems — which is why we saved it as a last troubleshooting step — it's possible that a bug or software incompatibility could be preventing File Explorer from working properly. The best way to ensure that's not causing File Explorer glitches is to check your computer for updates and install any updates which are waiting to be installed.
1. Click Start and then Settings.
2. In the Settings window, make sure you're on the System tab.
3. At the top right, click Check for updates.
4. Windows will download and install any updates that are available.
Dave Johnson Freelance Writer Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnpJqwqXvFoqOeZZWtva270Z6pZp6imrK7tc2gZLChnpm8uL%2BMamg%3D