Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys on your keyboard. Right-click anywhere on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu to get started.Since File Explorer is a process that always runs in the background, using Task Manager to restart it comes as no surprise. Here's what you need to do: Additionally, you can use it to keep an eye on hardware resources such as CPU usage, memory usage, and more.

These processes can be active programs, services, and other tasks that run in the background while you use your PC. Task Manager is basically a system monitor that you can use to start or end a process on your computer. We'll start with the most popular way to restart File Explorer. Restart File Explorer Using the Task Manager Despite the name change, you'll still see the older name being referenced in some parts of the OS, as you'll see below.ġ. Although you can control your PC with Task Manager or Command Prompt, the File Explorer makes it easy since it's an integral GUI component.īefore the release of Windows 8, it was referred to as Windows Explorer. If File Explorer isn't running on your computer or crashes, all you'll see is a black screen. Apart from file management, it also allows you to interact with the Start menu, desktop, and taskbar items. Having said that, File Explorer starts running in the background as soon as your computer boots up. Related: The Best Windows File Explorer Alternatives and Replacements If you're someone who switched from a Mac, consider this Microsoft's equivalent of Finder in macOS. You can open a new File Explorer window by simply clicking on the folder icon next to Windows Search. You use it to navigate through various directories and browse for files within the operating system. File Explorer is the built-in file manager for Windows devices.

Restarting windows explorer