Although you can control your PC with Task Manager or Command Prompt, the File Explorer makes it easy since it’s an integral GUI component.īefore the release of Windows 8, it was referred to as Windows Explorer.

If File Explorer isn’t running on your computer or crashes, all you’ll see is a black screen. Apart from file management, it also allows you to interact with the Start menu, desktop, and taskbar items. Having said that, File Explorer starts running in the background as soon as your computer boots up. Related: The Best Windows File Explorer Alternatives and Replacements If you’re someone who switched from a Mac, consider this Microsoft’s equivalent of Finder in macOS. You can open a new File Explorer window by simply clicking on the folder icon next to Windows Search. You use it to navigate through various directories and browse for files within the operating system. Here, we’ll be taking a look at four unique ways to restart File Explorer in Windows 10.įile Explorer is the built-in file manager for Windows devices.

By doing this, you’re basically hitting the reboot button for the graphical user interface without having to shut down or restart your PC.

Restarting windows explorer