The Windows File Explorer is the default file manager application for Windows devices and its one of the most complex tool with numerous features that makes it pretty outstanding among the rest.

Even though its the default file manager app for Windows OS, it can sometimes have some serious programmatic issues which might force it to crash often for whatever reason.

But this issue can be fixed without using any third-party application or service to troubleshoot the situation of the crashing which can be pretty frustrating.

In order to get this done, it’s ideal to first head over to run the system file checker where you can fix the issue without going down the rabbit hole in search for fixes for the crashing file explorer app for your Windows computer.

Run System File Checker

One of the many causes of the Windows File Explorer’s crash can be due to missing or corrupt files and in order to identify the cause of this issue in order to be able to fix it, you can then run the System File Checker tool via the Windows Powershell.

To open a new PowerShell window, right-click the Start menu and press the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.

In the new PowerShell window, type sfc /scannow, then press the Enter key.

The SFC tool will take some time to scan your PC for file errors. If it detects any (and where possible to do so), Windows will repair and replace the files, ensuring the overall integrity of your Windows installation.

This should help fix the problem but just in case the issue persists, there is another way by which this can be done and that includes checking Windows System Updates.

Windows System Updates

Running an outdated version of Windows releases can sometimes affect the functionalities of the entire computer in whole. Microsoft constantly release a number of updates periodically which could be security patches or bug fixes.

An outdated PC can have issues affecting some core operations within the computer system and that is why you need to constantly update your computer because not doing so will accumulate overtime making it really difficult to update on time considering the size of the files you’ll need to download to get the new version.

In order to update your Windows PC, head over to the settings page and then click on the Update & Security and look for Windows Update.

If there are any pending updates, press Install Now, otherwise press Check for Updates to search for any available updates.

Depending on how many updates you might have defaulted will be a determining factor about the download speed of the updates. When the update is complete, then you can restart your computer but it might not be the fix to this problem which mean you can read more guides below.

Separate File Explorer Processes

The next thing to think about is separating file explorer processes because of the way the Explorer process run. Considering the fact that Explorer process runs as a single process on a PC, each new File Explorer window that opens is placed together into a system process which can cause some stability issues especially on a slower computer.

In order to fix this issue, you can simply change the setting to split new File Explorer Window into a separate process which can be done via opening the File Explorer app and then click on File > Change folder and search option. You can also choose file > Options

In the Folder Options window, press the View tab. In the Advanced settings window, press the Launch folder windows in a separate process checkbox to enable the feature. When you’re done, click on the Ok button to save the changes.

With this setting applied, each new window opened in File Explorer will run under its own separate process. Should a single folder window become unstable, this setting should help to prevent Explorer from crashing entirely.

Disable Third-Party Explorer Extensions Using ShellExView

Windows File Explorer is customizable, thanks to third-party extensions that extend its functionality.

For instance, if you install an app like 7-Zip, you’ll be able to use the app to perform tasks (such as compressing a file) in Explorer itself. If you install VLC, you’ll be able to add files to a playlist, directly from a File Explorer window.

There are many third party apps that can be used through the Windows File Explorer when you right click an item. But some unstable apps or services might have issues that can have an adverse impact on the File Explorer app in general.

If you just want to disable this then you can access the setting via a third-party application called ShellEView. This is the fastest means of getting access to see the number of apps that can be accessed via the file explorer page.

Once installed, run the app and allow it to scan for any extensions. The list will include Microsoft’s own extensions, so press Options > Hide All Microsoft Extensions to ensure you don’t disable these, as this could break File Explorer.

Hiding Microsoft extensions from the list will display any third-party extensions installed. To disable an individual extension, right-click it, then press Disable Selected Items.

To disable all the third-party extensions, press Edit > Select All or press Ctrl + A on your keyboard. With the items selected, right-click the entries, then press Disable Selected Items.

With the items disabled, close ShellExView and restart your PC. You should no longer see them when you right-click files in File Explorer, but you may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Check Windows Error Logs

The Windows error logs is where the computer lodges every issues on the computer which you can view to understand the state of things on your computer.

To do this, right-click the Start menu and press Run and then enter Eventvwr and then click on OK. This command will call the Windows Event viewer.

In the Event Viewer window, press Windows Logs > Application in the left-hand menu. In the Application panel on the right, search for Event IDs with the value 1000. Event ID 1000 usually points to an error with the Windows Explorer process.

Once you’ve located a suitable error, select it, then check the General information listed below. This will provide some background on the cause of the issue, which you may need to research and troubleshoot further.

For instance, if a third-party app caused Explorer to crash, this may be listed in the error log, allowing you to locate and remove it to resolve the problem.

There could Malwares on your computer

The Windows Defender is here to help and that is why you need to always keep the software up and running at every times. You should also ensure its constantly updated. When your computer is infected by a virus, it’s not safe to use and can lead to other serious security compromises such as lost of data or the virus cold be a form of spyware that listens and watches all your moves on the computer.

While you can use third-party antivirus software, this isn’t actually necessary. Thanks to Windows Security (previously Windows Defender), you can scan your PC for malware without needing third-party software.

To do this, right-click the Start menu and select Run. Type windowsdefender: in the Run box before pressing OK.

In the new Windows Security window, press Virus & threat protection, then press Scan options.

Select Microsoft Defender Offline scan from the options, then press the Scan Now button.

At this point, Windows will restart and begin a boot-level scan of your PC for malware. If it detects any, Windows Security will attempt to quarantine or remove it. This should help to resolve stability issues with your PC and make it safe to use.

Repair by reinstalling Windows

Sometimes, the installation of your Windows 10 can be the main reason why the File Explorer keeps crashing down. Its possible to automate some of the maintenance tasks but also the generation of a performance report can be the best way of understanding the underlying causes of the issues

One common issue is broken registry items, so you may need to repair the Windows Registry if this is the case. And sometimes you might need to make a clean installation back on your computer to ensure its fixed just in case everything you’ve tried doesn’t work or better still, restore back to default in order to bring Wondows back to its default state before the problem.

This is usually the reason why its highly advisable to always create a Windows restoration point so you can monitor the cause of the problem and then revert to the point when the problem never existed.