How to Restart Explorer.exe in Windows 10

Restarting Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) is a quick fix for a frozen taskbar, missing desktop icons, or a File Explorer that stops responding. This guide shows you three safe ways to restart it—using Task Manager, Command Prompt, or a simple batch file—without losing your open files.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with admin rights (not required for the standard method, but needed for the Command Prompt method if you use an elevated prompt).
• Access to the keyboard (Ctrl, Shift, Esc keys) for the quickest method.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using Task Manager (Recommended)

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If it opens in compact mode, click More details at the bottom.
2. Go to the Processes tab. Scroll down to find Windows Explorer under the “Windows processes” section.
3. Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart. The taskbar and desktop icons will disappear for a few seconds, then reappear. That’s it.

Method 2: Using Task Manager (End Task + New Task)

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Right-click Windows Explorer and choose End task. The taskbar and desktop icons will vanish.
3. Click File in the top menu, then select Run new task.
4. Type explorer.exe in the box and check Create this task with administrative privileges if you want (optional).
5. Click OK. Explorer restarts, and your taskbar and icons return.

Method 3: Using Command Prompt

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. (If you want to run as admin, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead.)
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following and press Enter: taskkill /f /im explorer.exe. This force-closes Explorer.
3. Now type start explorer.exe and press Enter. Explorer restarts.
4. Close the Command Prompt window.

Method 4: Create a Restart Explorer Batch File (for future use)

1. Open Notepad.
2. Copy and paste these two lines:
   taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe
3. Click File > Save As. Choose a location, name it RestartExplorer.bat (make sure the “Save as type” is “All Files”).
4. Double-click the .bat file whenever you need to restart Explorer.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to restart after ending the task: If you use “End task” and don’t start a new task, your taskbar stays gone. Always follow with “Run new task” and type explorer.exe.
• Typing “explorer” instead of “explorer.exe”: Both usually work, but using the full name avoids any ambiguity.
• Running Command Prompt without admin: For the taskkill command, you might get “Access denied” if you’re not an admin. Use an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator).
• Closing the batch file window too early: If you double-click the .bat file, it closes immediately after starting Explorer. That’s fine, but if you want to see any error messages, add pause at the end.

Tips

• Save your work first: Restarting Explorer doesn’t close your apps or files, but it’s a good habit to save anyway.
• Use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the fastest way to open Task Manager, even when the taskbar is frozen.
• If Explorer is completely unresponsive: Sometimes you can’t even open Task Manager. In that case, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then choose Task Manager from the screen that appears.
• After restart, check your desktop icons: If they don’t reappear, right-click the desktop, select View, and make sure “Show desktop icons” is checked.

Troubleshooting

• Explorer doesn’t restart automatically: If you used the “End task” method and the taskbar doesn’t come back, manually start it: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click File > Run new task, type explorer.exe, and click OK.
• “Access denied” error in Command Prompt: This means you’re not running as administrator. Close the Command Prompt, right-click it and select “Run as administrator,” then try again.
• Explorer keeps crashing or freezing repeatedly: A single restart might not fix the underlying cause. Try these steps in order:
  – Run a system file check: open Command Prompt as admin and type sfc /scannow.
  – Check for Windows updates: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  – Run a disk check: open Command Prompt as admin and type chkdsk /f (you may need to restart).
  – If the problem persists, consider a clean boot to isolate third-party software conflicts.
• Desktop icons are missing after restart: Right-click the desktop, go to View, and ensure “Show desktop icons” is ticked. If they still don’t appear, open Task Manager > File > Run new task, type control desktop and press Enter (this opens the desktop settings).
• Taskbar is there but not responding: Sometimes the taskbar appears but clicks do nothing. Try restarting Explorer again. If that fails, sign out and sign back in (or restart the PC).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restarting Explorer close my open programs?

No, restarting Explorer only restarts the Windows shell (taskbar, desktop, File Explorer windows). Your open applications (like Word, Chrome) will remain open, though any File Explorer windows you had open will close.

Why does my taskbar freeze so often?

Frequent freezes can be caused by outdated graphics drivers, corrupted system files, or third-party shell extensions. Try updating your graphics driver and running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow).

Can I restart Explorer without losing my open File Explorer folders?

No, restarting Explorer closes all File Explorer windows. However, you can reopen them quickly by pressing Win + E. If you had multiple folders open, you’ll need to reopen them manually.

Is it safe to force-close Explorer with taskkill?

Yes, it’s safe. Windows will restart Explorer automatically if you use the “Restart” option, or you can start it manually. The only risk is losing unsaved work in Notepad or other simple editors that rely on Explorer’s window management, but that’s rare.

What’s the difference between “Restart” and “End task” in Task Manager?

“Restart” automatically stops and starts Explorer in one action. “End task” only stops it, so you must manually start it again. Using “Restart” is simpler and less prone to leaving you without a taskbar.

Can I restart Explorer from the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen?

No, the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen only gives you options like Lock, Sign out, and Task Manager. You can open Task Manager from there and then follow the steps above.

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