File Explorer Not Responding - Fix Windows File Explorer that keeps freezing

 Is your Windows File Explorer not responding when you try to access your files, photos or drives? If File Explorer isn't working as intended, you won't be able to find or access files that aren't on your desktop. There can be several reasons that contribute to slow or freezing Windows File Explorer. Luckily, most of the solutions are straightforward, and you can find step-by-step instructions below.

What is Windows File Explorer?

Known as Windows Explorer in earlier versions of the Windows operating system, File Explorer is used for navigating your computer.

With this graphical user interface (GUI) you can open a document in the "My Documents" folder, find the last downloaded file in the "Downloads" folder or browse your pictures or videos in the "Pictures" or "Videos" folder. File Explorer can also be used to navigate your storage disk or to see which networks you have access to. On your C: drive you will find the Programs folder where you can browse and open programs and applications.

You can copy, delete or move files. You can create new folders, create a shortcut and organize your files. There is also an excellent search function that can help you find a specific file.

What Causes the Windows File Explorer Not Responding Issue?

Since Windows is the most widely used operating system in the world, there are a large number of user reports on forums and other websites. Other users have reported issues with their file explorer application such as: B. freezing or not responding, and have found solutions that fix the problem.

The most common basic problems are:

• Windows 10 needs an update - When Windows 10 is outdated, you put yourself at risk of annoying bugs and security threats. Some users have reported that updating Windows completely prevented File Explorer from freezing.
• Hard Drive is Full - When your hard drive is nearing capacity (over 75% full), your computer will noticeably slow down. This is especially noticeable when accessing your file system.
• Changes in display settings - If you have changed the font size or other display settings, it can cause your file explorer application to freeze.
• File Explorer History Bloated - File Explorer keeps a history of files you've accessed and searched for in your recent searches. Although this feature is useful, a large history log can slow down or freeze the application.

How to fix File Explorer not responding or freezing

Below are 7 solutions to help you fix this annoying problem. You'll start with simple solutions like closing and manually restarting the application, clearing your file explorer application's search history, and adjusting your display preferences. If these first solutions don't fix the problem, you will move on to more complicated or specialized solutions.

1. Close File Explorer in Task Manager and reboot manually.

When your computer stops responding or freezes, your first instinct might be to open Task Manager. This instinct is correct because you can gracefully close any application running on your system. If File Explorer is consuming a lot of resources, especially the hard drive, the application may need to be closed. Once your computer's resources are free again, you can try opening the application again manually from the command prompt.

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del simultaneously. A menu will open, select Task Manager .
2. On the Processes tab , look for a program called Windows Explorer , click on the name to expand it.
3. Right-click File Explorer and choose End Task .

4. After File Explorer is closed, you can open Command Prompt to open it again. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar and look for Command Prompt Select Run as Administrator .

5. Type " start explorer.exe" in the command prompt window and press Enter to restart File Explorer.
6. Try navigating in Windows File Explorer to see if the issue has been resolved.

2. Clear File Explorer search history

According to the Windows 10 community, clearing File Explorer's search history brought the best results for users. This solution can solve the File Explorer not responding or freezing issue up to 80% of the time. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to see if this solves your problem:

1. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar and look for File Explorer Options. Click Open.

2. The File Explorer Options window opens. Under the Privacy heading , find Clear File Explorer history .
3. Click Delete and then click OK to close the window.

4. Try accessing Windows File Explorer again to see if you can navigate through your files without problems.

3. Check the display settings

Changing your display settings, either intentionally or accidentally, can cause significant File Explorer slowdowns. Your system recommends specific display settings that work best for your monitor and system. If File Explorer is not responding or keeps freezing, you can solve the problem by resetting the display settings to the recommended settings.

1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Settings The Settings menu will open. Find System and select it.

2. On the left you will see a menu, select View (if you are not already on this page) . Under Scaling and layout, you'll find Change the size of text, applications, and other elements.
3. Either choose the recommended setting or set the scaling to 100% .

4. You can also verify that the resolution is set to the recommended setting.
5. Exit the Settings menu and try using Windows File Explorer. If the problem persists, continue to the next solution.

4. Use the System File Checker to scan for and repair corrupted files

If File Explorer stops responding, important system files may have become corrupted. Windows includes a free built-in utility, System File Checker, that can detect file system errors. Many Windows users have reported that they were able to successfully solve this problem by running a system files scan. The utility scans your computer's system files and repairs and restores corrupted files. Try this solution:

1. 1. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar and type command prompt .

Choose Run as administrator .

• When the Command Prompt window opens, type " sfc /scannow " and press Enter .

3. The utility will scan your system and fix any errors found. Reboot your system when this is complete.
4. Try accessing File Explorer to see if the application keeps slowing down, freezing, or just not responding.

5. Reduce hard drive stress by freeing up space

When your hard drive runs out of capacity, your computer has to scramble to find space for your files. If you keep downloading or importing files, or your programs keep creating save files, your hard drive has to split the files. Files for one and the same program can be divided into different partitions. If your hard drive needs to retrieve these files from different locations, e.g. B. when opening the file explorer, there can be significant slowdowns.

You can avoid this problem by removing programs you no longer need and deleting old files and pictures. If you can't part with any of your programs or files, you can export all your personal files to an external hard drive. You can also install a new hard drive with a larger capacity to avoid this problem. Ideally, you should choose a capacity below 80% to avoid slowdowns.

6. Create a new user account

Another solution found by the Windows community is to create a new user account. Some users reported that after creating a new user account, they were able to access File Explorer without any problems. This solution might not be ideal if you are the only power user on your PC. But if this restores File Explorer functionality, it may be worth a try.

To create a new local user account:

1. Right-click the Windows icon in the taskbar and select Settings When the Settings window opens, search for Accounts and select it.

2. In the left pane , select Family & other users Under the Other users heading , select Add someone else to this PC .

3. You may need to create a new Microsoft account . When the new account is created, log in to it.
4. Check if you can successfully open and use Windows File Explorer.

If you decide to use the computer with this new account, you may need to reinstall some applications.

7. Windows 10 update

You may need to update Windows 10 if you're having problems with your computer, including accessing your file system, which is what File Explorer does. Follow the instructions below to check for Windows 10 updates and apply them to your system:

1. Right-click the Windows Start icon and select Settings.
2. The Windows settings window will open. Look for Update & Security and select it.

3. Select Windows Update in the left-hand pane (if you're not already on this tab automatically).
4. Under the Windows Update heading , select Check for updates .

Windows File Explorer not responding - solution found

If you have gone through all the methods, you have probably found a solution to the File Explorer freezing or unresponsive issue. The huge Windows community can be a great source of information as many of these solutions come directly from user reports showing what worked best for them!

If it's not an ongoing problem, you may have had success with the first few solutions that instruct you to restart File Explorer and clear File Explorer's search history. Other solutions included checking your display systems, checking for corrupted system files, removing unnecessary files to free up space on your hard drive, and updating Windows 10.