Summary: In this article you will find the best ways to fix Windows explorer not responding error with the help of Data Recovery Tool- Bitwar Data Recovery Software.
The Windows Explorer or the explorer.exe, or as it is called now on Windows 10, the File Explorer is an application for file management. In Windows, the file explorer is used for navigation to your hard drives, which displays the folder and its contents. It is launched automatically whenever you open a folder in the operating system.
But if the “Windows Explorer is not responding” error shows up on the screen, you won’t be able to open any folder on any version of Windows. If this error shows up, you will need a solution immediately. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do anything on your computer. Although there are a few temporary fixes that will ease the issue for the moment.
- You can wait for Windows to find you a solution.
- You can close the File Explorer via the Task Manager and start again.
- Reboot your computer.
- Update the video driver with a proper 64 or 32-bit version.
- Lastly, it could be caused by a virus or malware. So, use anti-virus software to eliminate such stuff from your computer.
Sadly, these are all temporary patches to fix the issue momentarily, but it will happen again if a vast underlined cause caused the said error. To fix this issue permanently, you will have to use the advanced solutions which are detailed below;
Table of Contents
Part 1: Effective Solutions to Fix “Windows Explorer not responding” Error
Method 1: Use SFC or System File Checker
This is a straightforward method and kit works like a charm for Windows explorer not responding error. Let’s take a look below:
Step 1: Make a right-click on cmd.exe and select Run As Administrator.
Step2: Then, type sfc/scannow and hit Enter to proceed.
Step 3: Now, a scan will begin.
After the scan, restart your computer, and the error shouldn’t have popped up again.
Method 2: Check the RAM and Clear some Ram Space(If Needed)
You can quickly check your RAM using Windows Memory Diagnostic. It is a relatively simple procedure, take a look here:
Step 1: Press Win logo key + R and then type Control panel in the dialogue box.
Step 2: Now, type Memory at the top-right search box to open Windows Memory Diagnostic.
Step 3: You have to choose if you want to Reboot the computer or Run the tool immediately or Schedule the device to run automatically after the restart.
Step 4: If you set to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic after the restart, then you will make a regular memory check. If you want to run more tests, then the hit the F1 key, then use the Arrow keys to change the test standard to Basic or Standard or Extended.
Step 5: After that, hit the F10 key to confirm the settings, and then the testing will resume.
After completing the tests, your computer will reboot automatically. After it starts again, the test results will be visible on the screen.
Method 3: Repair the Thumbnail File
This is quite a different procedure but simple enough to be executed by anybody with the least amount of computer knowledge.
Step 1: Bring up the File Explorer by pressing Windows and E keys together.
Step 2: Then, go to View at the top menu of the panel, and then click on the Change Folder Search option under Options Menu.
Step 3: Now, navigate to the View tab after opening the window.
Step 4: After that, check the box and activate the option called Always Show Icons. Lastly, click OK to execute.
Part 2: Restore Files with a Professional Data Recovery Software
Well, the “Windows Explorer not Responding” error could cause an abrupt exit of your file explorer, and it may result in the deletion of a few files. It is also possible that due to some unforeseen reason, you deleted a few files to fix the said error, but after the issue gets fixed, those files will remain lost forever.
But don’t worry, with the help of Bitwar Data Recovery Software, those files can be recovered immediately. The operation is easy-to-go, and which requires you only three steps to get back the lost data, no expert skills needed!
Bitwar Data Recovery is available for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and Mac, which is capable of restoring any file formats, like document, image, video, audio, archive file, etc. From any storage medium, such as USB flash drive, internal & external hard drive, SD memory card, etc.
To recover your deleted files, you can check on this tutorial: How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Files with Bitwar Data Recovery
Other Solutions Worth a Try:
Method 4: Restart the Windows Explorer using Task Manager
Step 1: Right-click on the taskbar and then choose Task Manager, or you can press Ctrl+Alt+Delete simultaneously, hit on Task Manager to launch Task Manager.
Step 2: Switch to Details tab and look for Explorer.exe and then right-click on it.
Step 3: Now, choose End Task, ignore the alert message, and hit on End process directly.
Step 4: After ending the process, please move to File – Run new task from the top menu.
Step 5: Type explorer.exe and then click OK.
The explorer.exe process will be restarted, and you can now check whether the Windows explorer is not responding issue persisted or not.
Method 5: Restart Explorer using CMD
Step 1: Go to Start Menu and then type CMD, right-click on it and then choose Run as administrator.
Step 2: After opening the Command Prompt window, type taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe to terminate the explorer process.
Step 3: To restart the explorer.exe, you’ll need to type the command: start explorer.exe
You’ll see the desktop back to normal right now, press Win Logo key + E at the same time to check Windows file explorer not responding error is fixed or not.
Fix it Now!
The “Windows Explorer Not Responding” error is a standard but a very terrible mistake of Windows. It forces you to stop all your work, as everything becomes inaccessible to you. So followed the several quick fixes and advanced solutions above to eliminate the error from the root.
Suppose that any of your files got lost or deleted during the abrupt exit of the File Explorer, you will be able to simply get it back with the help of Bitwar Data recovery software.
