Your desktop’s gone blank, the taskbar vanished, and File Explorer won’t budge. All of these are classic signs that Windows Explorer just gave up on you. Since it’s the engine behind everything from browsing files to navigating the Start menu, one tiny blunder can make your whole system feel broken. Rebooting might seem like the only fix, but it’s not. In this guide, I’ll take you through five reliable methods to restart Windows Explorer without rebooting your PC.
Restart Windows Explorer Using Task Manager
Restarting Windows Explorer using Task Manager is one of the easiest ways to fix glitches, especially if you’re looking for how to restart Windows Explorer without rebooting. Whenever my desktop icons disappear, the taskbar freezes, or File Explorer refuses to open, this method almost always does the trick. Over time, Task Manager has become my go-to tool for quickly kicking Explorer back into gear.
Step 1: First, you’ll need to open Windows Task Manager. Use the search bar to look for “Task Manager”, then click to open it. Alternatively, you can press “CTRL + ALT + DEL” and select “Task Manager” from the options that appear.
Step 2: In Windows Task Manager, click on the “Processes” tab. Here, you’ll see a list of all the programs installed on your system, with the currently running ones shown at the top.
Step 3: From this list, find and click on the “Windows Explorer” process. Then, click the “Restart” button located at the bottom-right corner of Task Manager.
And that’s all it takes to restart Windows Explorer using Task Manager. It’s quick, doesn’t require admin access, and works well even when things start to lag or freeze.
Restart Windows Explorer Using Command Prompt
When Task Manager isn’t accessible, like when the entire screen is frozen or unresponsive, the Command Prompt steps in as a powerful alternative. I’ve used this method in situations where even right-clicking was out of the question, and it never fails to give me that direct control I need. With just a couple of quick commands, you can shut down and restart Windows Explorer cleanly, bypassing the graphical interface entirely.
Step 1: Start by using the search bar to find "Command Prompt", and then click on the "Run as Administrator" option to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
Step 2: In Command Prompt, type the following command and press “Enter”:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Step 3: Now that Explorer has been terminated, it’s time to bring it back. Just enter the command below and hit “Enter” to relaunch the interface:
start explorer.exe
That’s how you restart Windows Explorer from Command Prompt with no clicks required, just clean control through a few quick commands. It’s especially useful when the graphical interface is completely unresponsive.
Restart Windows Explorer Using a BAT File
If restarting Explorer is something you find yourself doing often, creating a BAT file can save you time and hassle. I’ve set one up on my own desktop, and it’s become a useful little shortcut whenever things start acting up. When you create BAT file to restart Windows Explorer, you avoid repeating the same commands over and over. It’s a great way to automate the fix and keep your work going smoothly.
Step 1: Start by using the search bar to find "Notepad", then click on it to open it.
Step 2: In the blank Notepad window, paste the following two lines. These are the same commands used in Command Prompt but wrapped into a reusable script:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe
Step 3: Now, go to File and click Save As then give your file a name like “restart_explorer.bat”.
Now, whenever you double-click this file, it will automatically restart Windows Explorer for you. Place it somewhere convenient, like your desktop or taskbar, for quick access.
Restart Windows Explorer Using Exit Explorer Option
Sometimes you want a cleaner, more subtle way to restart Windows Explorer. That’s where the hidden Exit Explorer option comes in. It’s not widely known, but it’s built right into the Windows interface and lets you manually shut down Explorer through a simple right-click. I’ve used this method when I wanted a softer reset without forcing anything to close abruptly.
Step 1: Hold down Ctrl + Shift, then right-click on an empty area of your taskbar which should bring up a hidden option labeled Exit Explorer. Click it, and your desktop and taskbar will temporarily disappear.
Step 2: Use the search bar to look for “Task Manager”, then click to open it. Alternatively, you can press “CTRL + ALT + DEL” and select “Task Manager” from the options that appear.
Step 3: Once it’s open, click on “Run new task” at the top. This option lets you manually start a new process, which is exactly what we need to bring Explorer back.
Step 4: In the dialog box that pops up, type explorer.exe and press Enter. This will relaunch Windows Explorer and bring your desktop and taskbar back to life.
This method is clean and doesn’t involve killing processes forcefully. It's especially handy for those who want to be extra cautious.
Restart Windows Explorer by Signing Out
If none of the previous methods work or feel too technical, signing out of your account is a simple alternative. It safely shuts down all user processes and restarts them fresh when you log back in. I’ve used this approach on shared computers and older systems where other options failed. It’s an easy way to restart Windows Explorer in Windows 10 without diving into commands or tools.
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard and from the list that appears, click on Sign out. This will safely log you out of your current user session and shut down all background processes.
Step 2: Once you're back at the login screen, enter your credentials and sign in again. As part of the login process, Windows will automatically restart Explorer and refresh your desktop environment.
When you sign back in, Explorer restarts automatically. It’s a simple fix when nothing else seems to work or when you’re troubleshooting issues for less tech-savvy users.
WPS Office: A Best Suit for Windows 10/11 Users
After restarting Windows Explorer a few too many times, I noticed how easily little things slip: half-written drafts, unsaved notes, or files I meant to revisit. I didn’t want a bulky tool or a bunch of pop-ups, just something simple to keep things steady while I worked. I gave WPS Office a try and ended up using it more than I expected. It helped me reopen what I was working on without digging through folders or recent files. And when things crashed again, at least I wasn’t starting from scratch.
It includes the basics I needed: like a word processor, simple tools for slides and spreadsheets, and a PDF editor. Just enough to get things done without adding extra steps. On top of that, it has some AI features I didn’t expect, but ended up finding surprisingly useful:
AI Resume Assistant: I used this to update my CV in under 10 minutes, and it looked better than ever. It even suggested wording based on the type of job I was applying for, which saved me a lot of second-guessing.
AI Spell & Grammar Check: Far beyond basic corrections, it offers smart suggestions and paraphrasing options. I’ve used it to clean up emails and reports when I was short on time and needed a quick second opinion.
Academic Writing Support: If you’re a student or researcher, this tool helps structure and polish your work effortlessly. It’s especially helpful when you're staring at a half-finished draft and need help organizing your points.
AI Writing Assistant: It provides great content ideas and phrasing. I’ve used it to rework dull paragraphs and to get started when I didn’t know how to open a piece.
AI Slides Creator: Drop in a topic and get a fully structured, visually appealing presentation within minutes. It helped me outline a project update without spending an hour formatting slide titles and bullet points.
Smart PDF Tools: Summarize long PDF reports, extract highlights, and even chat with your documents. I used it to break down a 40-page report and find key stats without reading every single section.
FAQs
1. What is Windows Explorer?
Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) is the visual interface that manages your desktop, taskbar, and file browsing in Windows.
2. Will restarting Explorer close my files?
No. It may close open File Explorer windows, but your unsaved documents and other app data remain intact.
3. Can I restart Explorer without admin access?
Yes. Most of the methods mentioned like Task Manager and signing out don’t require administrative privileges.
4. Is WPS Office really free?
Absolutely. WPS Office offers its full suite at no cost for Windows users, including Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools.
5. What AI features are included in WPS Office?
Resume writing, grammar checking, academic support, slides creation, PDF summarizing, and general content generation powered by intelligent algorithms.
