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File Explorer keeps crashing or hanging
Windows ProblemsIntermediate15-30 minutes

File Explorer keeps crashing or hanging

Difficulty
Intermediate
Time
15-30 minutes
Category
Windows Problems

File Explorer freezing, crashing, or not responding? Here's how to fix Windows Explorer stability issues.

đź’ˇWhat's Happening

File Explorer (also called Windows Explorer) is freezing up, crashing when you open folders, or just showing a spinning wheel forever. This is one of the most frustrating Windows issues because File Explorer is how you access all your files and folders.

Common causes include: corrupted thumbnail cache, problematic shell extensions from third-party programs, damaged system files, too many files in a single folder, or conflicts with cloud storage services like OneDrive.

âś“Quick Checks

Try these first before moving to more complex solutions:

  • Restart File Explorer: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart
  • If a specific folder crashes Explorer, try opening it in Command Prompt instead to see if it's a folder-specific issue
  • Disconnect any external hard drives or USB devices temporarily to rule out device conflicts
  • Check if Windows is installing updates in the background (Settings → Windows Update)

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Clear the Thumbnail Cache

Corrupted thumbnail previews are a leading cause of Explorer crashes.

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter
  2. Select your C: drive and click OK
  3. Click Clean up system files
  4. Check the box for Thumbnails
  5. Click OK, then Delete Files
  6. Restart your computer

Alternatively, you can disable thumbnails entirely: Open File Explorer → View → Options → View tab → check "Always show icons, never thumbnails" → Apply.

Fix 2: Start Explorer in Clean Boot Mode

Third-party programs can add shell extensions that crash Explorer. Clean boot helps identify the culprit.

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter
  2. Go to the Services tab
  3. Check Hide all Microsoft services
  4. Click Disable all
  5. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager
  6. Disable all startup items one by one (right-click each and select Disable)
  7. Restart your computer
  8. If Explorer works fine now, re-enable services/startup items one at a time to find the problem program

Fix 3: Reset Folder View Settings

Corrupted folder view settings can cause Explorer to hang when opening folders.

  1. Open File Explorer and go to View → Options
  2. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab
  3. Click Reset Folders
  4. Click Apply, then OK
  5. Restart File Explorer using Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc → right-click Windows Explorer → Restart)

Fix 4: Run System File Checker and DISM

Corrupted Windows system files can destabilize Explorer. These tools repair them.

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
  2. Type this command and press Enter (this takes 10-15 minutes):
    sfc /scannow
  3. Wait for it to complete. If it finds and fixes issues, restart your computer
  4. If problems continue, open Terminal/Command Prompt as Admin again and run:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  5. This can take 20-30 minutes. After it finishes, run sfc /scannow again
  6. Restart your computer

⚠️If Nothing Worked

If Explorer still crashes after trying these fixes:

  • Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes bugs in Windows itself cause Explorer crashes, and updates fix them. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
  • Create a new user account: Sometimes user profile corruption causes the issue. Create a new Windows account and see if Explorer works there.
  • Disable OneDrive temporarily: Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, click the gear icon, select Pause syncing → 24 hours. If Explorer stabilizes, the issue is OneDrive-related.
  • Use Safe Mode: Restart in Safe Mode (Settings → Recovery → Advanced startup) and see if Explorer works. If it does, a third-party program is the problem.

đź“žWhen to Call a Pro

If Explorer crashes are accompanied by other system instability—random reboots, blue screens, or multiple programs crashing—you might have failing hardware (especially a failing hard drive). If you've tried all these fixes and Explorer still won't work, or if you're uncomfortable using Command Prompt and system tools, it's time to get professional help.

A technician can run hardware diagnostics, check your hard drive health, and perform advanced repairs that are risky to do yourself.

Need Professional Help?

If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.

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Related Topics

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