Monday, August 18, 2025

Fix “Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working” Error in Windows 7












“Windows Explorer has stopped working”

This crash can happen randomly or when opening a folder or right-clicking a file. Don’t worry — we’ll walk you through simple steps to fix it.

Common Causes:

  • Corrupted system files

  • Conflicting context menu extensions

  • Malware or virus infection

  • Faulty drivers or outdated software

Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: Use System File Checker (SFC)

  1. Click Start, type cmd

  2. Right-click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator

  3. Type this command and press Enter:

    sfc /scannow

  4. Let it complete (may take 15–30 minutes).

  5. Restart your PC after it completes.

Solution 2: Disable Problematic Context Menu Items

Sometimes, right-click context menu items from third-party software cause crashes.

  1. Download ShellExView:

  2. Run the program → Sort by Type → Look for items of type Context Menu.

  3. Disable all non-Microsoft items (select, right-click → Disable Selected Items).

  4. Restart your PC and test.

Solution 3: Perform a Clean Boot

  1. Click Start, type msconfig, press Enter.

  2. Go to Services tab → Check Hide all Microsoft services → Click Disable All.

  3. Go to Startup tab → Click Open Task Manager → Disable all startup items.

  4. Restart your PC.

  5. If the issue is gone, enable services one-by-one to find the culprit.

Solution 4: Scan for Malware

Run a full malware scan using Windows Defender or trusted tools like:

  • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

  • HitmanPro

  • ESET Online Scanner

Solution 5: Update Drivers and Windows

  • Update your display and chipset drivers.

  • Run Windows Update to get the latest security patches.

Optional: Reset Windows Explorer Settings

  1. Open Control Panel > Folder Options

  2. Go to the General and View tabs

  3. Click Restore Defaults

  4. Apply and restart the system