File Explorer not responding on Windows 11? how to fix it

File Explorer is one of the most visited applications in Windows, but unfortunately, it is not immune to bugs and problems. Some readers have reported that File Explorer is unresponsive on their Windows 11 PCs.

Sometimes, it fails to respond to commands, and other times, the response is slow. If you're facing a similar problem, we've got you covered.

Why is File Explorer unresponsive on Windows 11?

Some of the most likely reasons behind the File Explorer not responding issue are as follows:

• Corrupt or Missing System Files – System file corruption is a problem of Windows File Management Common reasons why the server responds to right-clicks.
• Incompatible Third-Party Applications – Recently installed third-party applications, if incompatible, may interfere with the working of the operating system and other applications.
• Corrupted File Explorer Cache - If cached data is not evicted regularly, it can become corrupted and slow down the File Explorer application.
• Outdated Graphics Drivers – Outdated system drivers may trigger various issues on your system and may also break the File Explorer application.
• Malware or Virus Infection – Malware and virus attacks can cause several system-level issues, including File Explorer unresponsiveness on Windows 11.

In this guide, we have compiled a list of effective solutions to fix File Explorer not responding issue on Windows 11.

What should I do if File Explorer is unresponsive on Windows 11?

Before implementing complex troubleshooting solutions, make sure to do the following:

• If your computer won't restart, restart your computer and follow our detailed guide.
• Update all system drivers.
• Install available Windows 11 updates.
• Scan your PC for viruses and malware.

If these simple fixes don't resolve the issue, implement the following solutions.

1. Restart File Explorer

1.1 Use Task Manager

1. Right-click on the taskbar Windows icon, and then select Task Manager from the Quick Links menu.
Right-click the
2. Windows Explorer process in the Applications section of the Processes tab and select End task" option.
Click the
3. "File" option on the top menu bar and select "Run New Task" from the submenu .
Type Explorer or
4. Explorer.exe in the text field of the Create New Task window and press OK.

1.2 Use the Command Prompt

key, type
1. cmd in the Search bar at the top, and then Click on the "Run as administrator" option in the results section. Windows
Press
2. "Yes" in the "User Operation Control" window.
Type or paste the following command and press the key to end the
3. File Explorer process. Entertaskkill /f /im explorer.exe<strong></strong>
Next, type the following command and execute it to run on Windows 11 computer Restart
4. File Explorer. start explorer.exe<strong></strong>

Restarting File Explorer using either of the two methods discussed above will eliminate the files causing Potential technical glitches in Explorer unresponsiveness issue on Windows 11.

2. Run SFC and DISM scan

1. Press the key to open the "Start" menu and type cmd in the search column , then select "Run as administrator" from the results section. Windows
2. Type or paste the following command and press the key to start a full system scan. Enter<strong>sfc /scannow</strong>
3. SFC After the scan is complete, type or copy-paste the following command, and then according to. Enter<strong>DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth</strong>

SFC Scanning and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management ) together to scan your PC for corrupted and missing system images and restore them using the original version of Fix Unresponsive File Explorer app.

Although SFC and DISM scanning is a safe solution, some users prefer to use third-party software like Resoro as it can be used as a replacement by finding new parts Automatically repair all damaged or missing files.

3. Clear File Explorer cache

1. Use shortcut to launch File Explorer on Windows 11 PC. WindowsE
2. Click the Menu icon (three dots) on the right side of the menu bar and select the option from the drop-down menu .
3. In the Folder Options window, press Clear next to "ClearFile Explorer History" ” button, and then press “OK”.

Cache files accumulate in File Explorer and if not cleared for a long time, it slows down the application or it may be that File Explorer becomes unresponsive on Windows 11 s reason.

6. Uninstall the display driver

1. Use the shortcut to launch the "Run" dialog box, type the following command in the text field, and then press the key. WindowsREnter<strong>devmgmt.msc</strong>
##Expand
2. " Display Adapter" category.
Right-click on the display driver and select the
3. Uninstall Device option.
Click
4. Uninstall in the confirmation pop-up window.

After uninstalling the display driver from the computer, restart the computer to install the standard display driver for the device. If display drivers are corrupted, they can cause File Explorer to malfunction and stop responding to commands.

7. Run the system maintenance tool

Press the
1. "Start" button and type"Control Panel" in the Search column " and select relevant search results.
Set "
2. View by" to "Small Icons", and then select the "Security and Maintenance" category.
Expand the "Maintenance" section and click
3. "Start Maintenance".

Windows 11 has built-in system maintenance tools to diagnose potential problems and optimize the performance of the operating system and Windows apps like Windows Explorer.

8. Clean boot your PC

1. Use the shortcut to launch the "Run" command window. Type the following command and press to execute it. WindowsREntermsconfig
2. Uncheck the box to load Startup items , and then select the Load system service option in the system Configuration window.
3. Switch to the "Services" tab, enable the "Hide all Microsoft services" option located in the lower left corner, and then press the "Disable" button.
4. Click the OK button and restart your computer; it will boot with a clean boot.

Now try to open File Explorer on your Windows PC. If successful, it means that some third-party application is interfering with File Explorer functionality. You can refer to this guide to uninstall apps from Windows.

That’s almost it! If File Explorer is unresponsive on Windows 11, you can try the solutions listed here, affecting your workflow. If File Explorer crashes randomly on Windows, refer to the proven solutions provided in this guide.

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