Have you ever encountered problems with your Windows 10/11 Explorer.exe? Learn how to terminate and restart it with these simple steps.
Terminating Explorer.exe on Windows
If you’re experiencing difficulties with your Windows interface, one solution might be to terminate and restart the explorer.exe process. Here are a few ways to do it:
Option 1: Exit Explorer from the Taskbar
1. Right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.”
2. Find “Windows Explorer” in the “Processes” tab.
3. Click “End task.”
4. Your desktop icons and taskbar will disappear.
5. To restart explorer.exe, choose “File” from the Task Manager menu and select “Run new task.”
6. Type “explorer.exe” and hit enter.
Option 2: Use the Context Menu
1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del on your keyboard and select “Task Manager.”
2. Find “Windows Explorer” in the “Processes” tab.
3. Right-click on the explorer.exe entry and select “End task.”
4. To restart explorer.exe, click “File” from the Task Manager menu and select “Run new task.”
5. Type “explorer.exe” and hit enter.
Option 3: Use the Command Prompt
1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and click “OK.”
3. Type “taskkill /f /im explorer.exe” and hit enter. This will terminate the explorer process.
4. To restart explorer.exe, type “explorer.exe” and hit enter.
TIP: In Windows 10, you can also restart explorer.exe from the Start menu. Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys and right-click on the Start menu. Select “Exit Explorer” from the context menu, then use the above steps to restart the process.
Remember, terminating and restarting explorer.exe will close all open programs. This method is best used as a last resort if you’re experiencing issues with your Windows interface.
Restarting Explorer on Windows with Task Manager
If you’re having difficulties with your computer’s Windows Explorer, there are ways to solve the issue without having to reboot your system. One solution is to restart Explorer with the Task Manager, a program management process that comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open Task Manager by pressing “Ctrl-Alt-Del” and selecting “Task Manager” from the context menu or right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the menu that pops up.
Step 2: Once in Task Manager, go to the “Processes” tab and find “explorer.exe” in the list of running programs.
Step 3: Right-click on “explorer.exe” and select “End task” to shut it down.
Step 4: Then, click on “File” in the top left corner of the Task Manager window and select “Run new task.”
Step 5: In the “Create new task” dialog box, type “explorer.exe” and click “OK.”
This will restart Explorer, and you should be able to use it as normal. This method works on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10/11. Keep in mind that the interface may be different depending on the version of Windows you are using.
Restarting Explorer on Windows through the Start Menu
To restart Explorer on Windows, there are a few straightforward ways to do it. One option is to use the Start Menu. First, press Ctrl-Alt-Del and click on Task Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click on the taskbar and click on Task Manager from the context menu. Then, select the Processes tab and find explorer.exe from the list of running processes.
Select it, and then click on the End task button at the bottom right-hand corner of the window. This will terminate the Explorer process, and the desktop background will disappear.
To restart Explorer, click on the File menu and select New task. In the Create new task window, type explorer.exe and hit Enter. This will restart Explorer and bring back the desktop, taskbar, and notification area.
This method works for all versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Restarting Explorer can be a quick solution to resolve any difficulties you might be experiencing with the Explorer interface or background.
python
import os
# Get the list of running processes
running_processes = os.popen('tasklist').readlines()
# Loop through the processes to find explorer.exe
for process in running_processes:
if 'explorer.exe' in process:
# Get the process ID of explorer.exe
pid = int(process.split()[1])
# Terminate explorer.exe
os.system(f'taskkill /f /pid {pid}')
# Close all open windows and applications
os.system('taskkill /f /im *')
Note that this code should only be used for educational purposes and should not be used to harm or interfere with any computer systems. It is always essential to prioritize the safety and security of users when creating tools or applications.
Command Prompt Method to Restart Explorer on Windows
To restart Explorer on Windows using the Command Prompt Method, follow these steps:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select Task Manager from the menu.
2. In the Processes tab, locate the explorer.exe entry.
3. Right-click on it and select the End task option.
4. Click on the File menu and select Run new task.
5. In the Create new task window, type explorer.exe.
6. Check the Create this task with administrative privileges option.
7. Click OK to restart Explorer.
This method is useful if you are experiencing difficulties with the Explorer program management process, or if it has stopped responding. Restarting Explorer can help to fix these issues and get your computer back to normal. It is also a quick and easy way to refresh the Explorer interface if you want to apply changes to your user preferences or reboot your system.
