What should I check first when I see File Explorer not responding?

First, proceed with the ‘Restart Windows Explorer’ step. Taskbar, Start Menu, and Explorer problems can be repaired by restarting the Explorer process. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

How do I check for the possible cause ‘corrupted file or thumbnail’?

If there is no change in the first step, compare the steps up to ‘Completely restart your PC’. If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

File Explorer Frequently Becomes Unresponsive: When Do You Need a Professional Check?

Even if you follow the above solution steps in order, if the File Explorer unresponsive symptom recurs or hardware abnormal signals such as a burning smell, abnormal noise, overheating, or failure to recognize parts appear, we recommend backing up important data and having a professional inspection.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Windows

File Explorer frequently becomes unresponsive

If you are seeing the “File Explorer Not Responding” symptom, possible causes include corrupted files or thumbnails, delayed network paths, etc. It's easy to isolate Windows shell problems by checking Explorer, startup programs, system files, and user profiles, in that order.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

File Explorer not responding
Freezes when opening folder
Explorer Freezing

main causes

Corrupted file or thumbnail
network path delay
shell extension conflict

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Restart Windows Explorer

Taskbar, Start Menu, and Explorer problems can be repaired by restarting the Explorer process.

Difficulty Easy time 3 minutes cost 0 won

1Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2Find Windows Explorer and select Restart.
3If it's not listed, run explorer.exe from Run a new task.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “File Explorer not responding” symptom decreases or disappears. If there is no change, check for the possibility of a corrupted file or thumbnail in the next step.

Completely restart your PC

Temporary driver and service errors can often be recovered just by restarting.

Difficulty Easy time 2-5 minutes cost 0 won

1Save the file you are working on.
2From the Start menu, select Power → Restart.
3After rebooting, see if the same symptom occurs again.

confirmation point

If it's normal right after rebooting, it's most likely a temporary software error.

Check for Windows updates

Updates may fix known errors in the operating system and underlying drivers.

Difficulty Easy time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Open Settings → Windows Update.
2Click Check for updates to install any pending updates.
3After installation is complete, restart your PC.

Check Windows system files

Corrupted system files can create boot, explorer, app, and update problems.

Difficulty Moderate time 15-40 minutes cost 0 won

1Open a terminal or command prompt with administrator privileges.
2Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
3After completion, run sfc /scannow.
4When the scan is finished, restart your PC.

Compare with clean boot or new user account

You can distinguish between shell extensions, startup services, and corrupted user profiles.

Difficulty Moderate time 20~40 minutes cost 0 won

1Turn off unnecessary startup programs and reboot.
2If possible, check for the same symptoms on a new local user account.
3For new accounts, check existing profile/shell extensions if they are normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

Related issues

If the symptoms do not match exactly, please check the issue below.

Windows

File Explorer not opening issue

Among Windows problems, the symptom of “File Explorer not opening” may be related to Explorer process errors or update/extension conflicts. It's easy to isolate Windows shell problems by checking Explorer, startup programs, system files, and user profiles, in that order.

View solutions →

Windows

Problems with the taskbar or start menu freezing

This guide is organized to help you sort out Explorer/Shell process issues, system app or file corruption items in a safe order for “taskbar not clicking” situations. It's easy to isolate Windows shell problems by checking Explorer, startup programs, system files, and user profiles, in that order.

View solutions →

Windows

Windows search bar not working

If the current symptom is close to “Windows not searchable,” first check for Windows Search service/index problems or shell errors. It's easy to isolate Windows shell problems by checking Explorer, startup programs, system files, and user profiles, in that order.

View solutions →

Windows

Windows Settings app not opening

If the current symptom is closer to “Settings not opening,” first check for system app corruption or shell configuration issues. It's easy to isolate Windows shell problems by checking Explorer, startup programs, system files, and user profiles, in that order.

View solutions →

Look for other symptoms too

If you enter the symptoms you are currently seeing in the PC FIX search box, we will find the related problem.

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