The File Explorer not responding issue in Windows 11 is a common but disruptive problem that can occur for various reasons. This article breaks down the underlying causes and introduces 11 practical solutions to resolve the issue. Each method is explained clearly to help users identify the most suitable fix and prevent File Explorer from becoming unresponsive again.
I tried every solution available on the internet to make File Explorer responsive. However, it is not working. I open up File Explorer, it opens. Now, when I click any folder or any icon or try to do search, it becomes unresponsive. I have spent days trying to fix this and I am very frustrated with this. Can any Samaritan help me with this?
- Question from Sajan
File Explorer is one of the most frequently used components in Windows 11, acting as the central hub for accessing files, folders, and drives. When it freezes or crashes, everyday tasks can come to a sudden halt. Many users encounter the frustrating issue of File Explorer not responding on Windows 11, where the window becomes unclickable, turns white, or stops loading folders altogether.
Fortunately, this issue is fixable. This article will help you restore the smooth performance of File Explorer for file access with a few proven methods.
Before applying any fixes, it’s important to understand the root causes behind File Explorer is not responding in Windows 11. Common reasons include:
With these possibilities in mind, let’s move into practical solutions, starting with the simplest and progressing to more advanced fixes. Each method below addresses a specific cause. Even if one solution doesn’t work, it often prepares the system for the next step.
File Explorer not responding may just be a temporary system glitch. As basic as it sounds, restarting clears temporary memory issues and reloads system services. Press the power button to restart your computer and check whether File Explorer responds correctly after reboot. If File Explorer keeps not responding on Windows 11, you can also try to open it in Safe Mode.
File Explorer might be hit by a minor glitch. If this small fault is stopping File Explorer from working properly, you can likely resolve it by restarting the tool via Task Manager. This refreshes the Explorer shell without restarting the entire system and is one of the fastest ways to address File Explorer not responding issue.
Step 1. Press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" to open Task Manager.
Step 2. Locate Windows Explorer from the lists and right click on it, then choose "Restart".
If you're comfortable with command-line, you can also restart File Explorer using Command Prompt. This forcibly closes and relaunches File Explorer, resolving many temporary lockups.
Step 1. Locate Command Prompt and run it as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the following command "taskkill /f /im explorer.exe" to end File Explorer.
Sep 3. Then, you can reboot it with the following command "start explorer.exe".
Corrupted quick access data or recent files can cause Explorer to freeze during startup. Clearing recent File Explorer history is especially helpful if Explorer freezes immediately after opening.
Step 1. Open File Explorer and click "View" > "Options" on the top of menu, then click "Change folder and search options". (Or open File Explorer Options in Control Panel.)
Step 2. Under the "General" tab, click "Clear" to clean File Explorer history.
Failing to clear the jump list for a long time can lead to accumulated data ranging from several megabytes to hundreds of megabytes. Clearing the jump list removes recently used items or files, which improves File Explorer performance. In particular, corrupted cache files are one of the causes of File Explorer not responding.
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Type the command and hit the "Enter" key:
Wait for the process to complete, restart File Explorer to check if it still not responding.
Low disk space on the system drive can slow or freeze File Explorer. Windows File Explorer relies heavily on free disk space for caching and background processes. Try cleaning system space to fix the problem.
Step 1. Type "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu and open it.
Step 2. Choose your system drive (typically the C drive) to clean.
Step 3. Choose the files you want to delete including Recycle Bin, Temporary files, etc. and click "OK" to delete them.
Corrupted system files can directly affect File Explorer behavior. DISM and SFC command is a Windows built-in utility to detect corrupted system files and attempt to repair them. Follow these steps to check system file integrity.
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Input the following command "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" and press "Enter" key.
Step 3. Wait for the process to finish, type the command "sfc /scannow" and hit "Enter" key.
After the command is completed, launch File Explorer again to check if issue persists.
Malware can hijack Explorer processes and cause freezes. Using Windows Defender or trusted third-party antivirus software to scan for virus or malware which cause the File Explorer not responding.
Step 1. Open File Explorer and right click on your system drive, then choose "Scan with Microsoft Defender" from the context menu. (Alternatively, you can navigate to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Security" > "Virus & threat protection".)
Step 2. This will automatically perform a quick scan for your drive. Once the scan finishes, you can choose "Full scan" to perform a more comprehensive scan.
Step 3. If any suspicious file is detected, remove or quarantined it.
Your Windows system might be running outdated versions. Microsoft regularly rolls out security updates and bug fixes, so if you haven’t updated Windows in quite some time, there could be unresolved issues that need patching.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update".
Step 2. Click "Check for updates" to view if any update is available. If it is, download and install it to fix the "File Explorer not responding" issue.
While Windows updates fix certain bugs, they may also cause compatibility issues, especially if your hardware is outdated. If File Explorer not responding after a recent Windows update or new program installation, uninstalling the latest updates and program might resolve the problem.
Step 1. Go to "Control Panel" > "Programs".
Step 2. Under "Program and features", click "Uninstall a program" to remove the recently installed programs.
Step 3. Click "View installed updates", select the updates you want to uninstall and right click on it, then click "Uninstall" or click "Uninstall an update".
If none of the above methods resolve the issue, System Restore can roll back problematic changes. This will delete any programs installed after the restore point was created, but it won’t affect your personal data.
Step 1. Type "Create a restore point" in the Start menu and open it, then click "System Restore".
Step 2. Choose a created restore point before the issue appeared and click "Next".
Step 3. Click "Finish" to start the process. You can check the affected programs by clicking on "Scan for affected programs".
With the methods above, your Windows File Explorer should have restored its normal performance by now. If you notice any data loss while performing these fixes like clearing disk space, don’t panic. This does not always mean permanent loss and data may simply be inaccessible. The professional data recovery tool—MyRecover is designed to recover lost files due to system freezes, crashes, etc.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store or its official site.
Step 2. Open the app and select the drive to scan for lost files, then click "Scan".
Step 3. After the scan is completed, choose the files you would like to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".
Step 4. Save the recovered files to a safe location.
Once the process is done, you'll see the message "Files have been recovered successfully". Then, you can access the recovered files in the destination folder by clicking on the Browse" button.
Experiencing Windows 11 File Explorer not responding can be disruptive, but it is usually fixable with solutions outlined above. If File Explorer crashes lead to missing or inaccessible files, data recovery should be your next priority. MyRecover offers a reliable data safeguard when something goes wrong.
If you require more advanced features like unlimited recovery, file content previews, and the ability to retrieve data from a crashed system, MyRecover Professional edition can meet all your data recovery needs.