Knowledge Base

Windows 10 File Explorer crashing

Some Windows 10 users have complained about Windows 10 File Explorer crashing. When a user tries to open a folder or drive, File Explorer crashes abruptly.

This article shows four steps you can to take to resolve the problem. These steps, or methods, should be carried out in the order listed below.

  • Method 1: Change Display settings
  • Method 2: Clear File Explorer history
  • Method 3: Launch folder windows in a separate process
  • Method 4: Find the app that is causing the crash, and uninstall it

 

Method 1: Change Display settings

Sometimes the Display Settings may cause an issue with File Explorer. To change display settings, proceed as follows.

  1. In the Windows 10 Start menu search box, search for Display settings.
  2. In the Best match results, click on Display settings, as shown below.

The Settings page opens.

In the left-hand navigation column, ensure you have Display selected.

  1. Use the slider control to change the size of text, apps, and other items to 200% or 150% or 100%. The recommended size is 100%. Do not let it remain at 175%. 

If the problem persists, or your size is already set at 100%, then try Method 2.

 

Method 2: Clear File Explorer history

To clear the File Explorer history, proceed as follows.

  1. Open your Windows 10 Control Panel.
  2. In the Search box at the top right hand corner of the Control Panel type, File explorer options.
  3. In the list of search results, click File Explorer Options, as illustrated below.

The File Explorer Options window opens on the General tab.

  1. Click the Clear button, to clear the File Explorer history.
  2. Click OK.

 

Method 3: Launch folder windows in a separate process

  1. Open your File Explorer window.
  2. Click on the View tab, and then double-click the Options icon.

The Folder Options window opens, on the General tab.

  1. Click the View tab, to open the view options.

  1. Tick the checkbox, Launch folder windows in a separate process.
  2. At the bottom of the window, click the Apply button.

 

Method 4: Find the app that is causing the crash, and uninstall it

If all else fails, then you should find and remove the app that is causing File Explorer to crash. Wait for the next time that File Explorer crashes, then take the following action.

  1. Just after File Explorer crashes, search for Event Viewer in the Start menu search box.

  1. Click to open Event Viewer.
  2. Inside the Event Viewer window, go to Windows Logs and select System.

A list of system events appears, with the latest event at the top of the list.

  1. Look for the most recent Error message (as shown above).
  2. Click on the Error message entry to identify and view details of the process or app causing File Explorer to crash.
  3. Uninstall the app.