File Explorer Not Responding in Windows 11 How to Fix It

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File Explorer Not Responding in Windows 11 How to Fix It

You open a folder and File Explorer hangs with "Not responding" in the title bar, spins on "Working on it...", or closes itself. Sometimes the taskbar and desktop freeze with it, because they're all part of the same Windows Explorer process. Here's how to get it working again, from the quick fixes to the deeper repairs.

Step 1: Restart Windows Explorer

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
On the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer.
Right-click it and choose Restart.

If Explorer disappeared completely (no taskbar either), select Run new task in Task Manager, type explorer.exe and press Enter.

Then restart the PC once. It clears many temporary glitches.

Step 2: Clear File Explorer History

A long list of recent files and folders, especially ones on drives that no longer exist, can slow Explorer down.

Open File Explorer, select the three dots (...) in the toolbar, and choose Options.
On the General tab, under Privacy, select Clear next to "Clear File Explorer history".
Select OK.

If Explorer hangs when it first opens, set Open File Explorer to on the same tab to This PC instead of Home.

Step 3: Disconnect Dead Network Drives

A mapped network drive that's offline can make Explorer wait each time it opens.

Open File Explorer > This PC.
Right-click any network drive that's no longer available and choose Disconnect (on some builds it's under Show more options).

Also disconnect USB drives or card readers that aren't working properly, and check whether Explorer is faster without them.

Step 4: Check the Folder That Crashes It

If Explorer only hangs in one folder:

Large folders of photos or videos can be slow while thumbnails are generated. Wait a minute the first time.
Try changing that folder's view to Details (View > Details), which doesn't need thumbnails.
If the folder is in OneDrive or another cloud service, pause syncing and try again.
If a specific file seems to cause the crash, move it out of the folder and test.

Step 5: Open Folder Windows in a Separate Process

This keeps a crashing folder window from taking the taskbar and desktop down with it.

Open File Explorer > three dots (...) > Options.
On the View tab, tick Launch folder windows in a separate process.
Select OK and restart the PC.

Step 6: Install Windows Updates

Explorer bugs are regularly fixed in updates. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install everything and restart. If the problem started right after an update, remove it from Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.

Step 7: Remove Programs That Add to Explorer

Programs that add items to the right-click menu or preview files (archive tools, cloud storage, image viewers, older antivirus) can crash Explorer. If the problem started after installing one, update or uninstall it. Safe Mode loads none of these add-ons: if Explorer works fine there, one of them is the cause.

Step 8: Repair Windows System Files

Open Terminal (Admin) (press Win + X) and run:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Restart when both finish. More details: how to run SFC and DISM to repair Windows 11.

Step 9: Check the Drive

If Explorer hangs on your main drive and the whole PC feels slow, the drive may be failing. Open Terminal (Admin) and run chkdsk C: /scan, and check the drive's health in Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes > Properties. Back up first if you see any warnings.

Folders Open With the Wrong App?

If double-clicking a folder shows "Application not found" instead of opening it, that's a different problem; see application not found when opening folders in Windows.

Still Not Fixed?

Try a new user account (Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account). If Explorer works there, your profile is damaged; move your files to the new account.
Use System Restore to go back to a date before the problem started.
The last resort is Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC with Keep my files. It removes apps, so back up first.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I restart File Explorer in Windows 11?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer on the Processes tab, right-click it and choose Restart.

Why does File Explorer say 'Working on it' for a long time?

It's often waiting for something slow: a disconnected network drive, a large folder of media files, a cloud folder syncing, or a failing drive. Clearing File Explorer history and removing dead network drives usually helps.

Does File Explorer crash because of a bad folder?

Sometimes. A corrupt file, a broken thumbnail or a shell extension from another program can crash Explorer when that folder opens. Test by opening other folders, and try in Safe Mode.

Will repairing File Explorer delete my files?

No. Restarting Explorer, clearing its history and running SFC and DISM don't touch your personal files.