I have realized that corruption in the Windows registry can lead to many problems. Some of you may have faced this problem that after you logged on to your computer, you might have seen just a blank screen. No desktop, no Taskbar! This may happen because explorer.exe which is supposed to start up automatically, did not start at all. While some registry errors might have caused this issue, it is certainly possible the problem could be due to some virus infection too, which blocks the Windows File Explorer from running.
Explorer.exe does not start in Windows 11/10
In such situations where your Windows 11/10 explorer.exe fails to start-up automatically on every boot, here are a few steps you can try out:
- Check and disable addons and see
- Check Registry setting
- Run System File Checker
- Run System Restore
- Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
Let us see the process in detail.
1) Check and disable addons and see
Check if any add-ons may be interfering with its starting up. Often, 3rd-party shell extensions can cause Explorer to crash on particular actions. Several programs add items to the right-click context menu. To see them in detail, you may download the freeware utility ShellExView.
2) Check Registry setting
Back up your Windows Registry first, and then open regedit and navigate to the following :
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
In Winlogon, on the right side, you should notice a value called “Shell“. In the RHS Pane, ensure that the default string value of Shell is explorer.exe.
Double-click this value. Make sure only ‘explorer.exe‘ is given the value of Shell. If you see anything else there, simply delete it and leave only ‘explorer.exe’ .
Exit the Registry Editor.
Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Related: Fix File Explorer will not open in Windows.
3) Run System File Checker
Open command prompt as admin and Run sfc /scannow.
Read: Windows cannot find explorer.exe
4) Run System Restore
See if a System Restore helps you.
5) Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
Start Windows in Safe Mode and see if your explorer.exe will start in safe mode. If it does, then obviously something is interfering with its normal start in regular mode. I suggest you scan for malware in safe mode, remove infections if any, and reboot. If you need to manually troubleshoot, you may perform a Clean Boot.
Why is explorer.exe not running?
The main reason why Windows File Explorer is not running is that you have corrupt system files, malware, or adware. That said, you need to check the Task Manager for possible malicious files, use an antivirus to scan, use adware removal tools to remove adware, and more. If nothing helps, you need to restore your PC.
How do I manually restart explorer.exe?
To manually restart explorer.exe or Windows File Explorer, you need to take the help of the Task Manager. Therefore, open the Task Manager and find the Windows Explorer process. Next, click on it to select and click on the Restart button. It will restart the process or Windows File Explorer within moments.
Related read: Windows File Explorer crashes, freezes, or has stopped working.
does that work for windows 8.1?
Yes, it should. :)
well, what actually worked for me was replacing the corrupted Windows.UI.Immersive.dll from another windows installation and replacing the corrupted files.
Oh that’s good! Thanks for the useful feedback. Hope it helps someone someday. :)
No help for me. My RegEdit settings are OK according to this. I have to start Task Manager and start Explorer in Administrator mode to get it to start. This is annoying, but some features don’t work when explorer is in administrator mode, and I can’t turn that off to fix other problems.
Another way to open windows:
Immediately on starting computer, tap F8 repeatedly until “Repair Your Computer” shows. Select it. — “System recovery” shows/ select “US” and then “next” —– System recovery again shows. Either enter your password or, if none, select “OK”.
On next menu select “Windows Memory Diagnostic” and choose “restart now”
NOW WAIT 7-8 MINUTES while it does its thing.
When it is done it will reopen windows on your desktop with everything working, possibly faster than before.
Arthur
That did not work. Instead everytime after startup you can press ctrl+shift+esc then run the task explorer.
Thanks a ton. This worked for me.
i open regedit but the root in HKLM just show current version alone, winlogon or other dont exist in that carpet
your post helped me a lot but i found out that i did not have a shell file in my register, so i simply added it as shown on your photo, restated my pc and walla my explorer was up and running again
Yes, you did the right thing and glad it helped you.
guys my brother has modify the explorerframe.dll and remplace it with another now when windows startup there is nothin no dektop ne icon no nothing exept a window show’s that explorer.exe has a probleme
hello I scan by using Sfc/scan the scan completed successfully and got the message that it repaired all problem, then i checked my registry I found shell with explorer.exe , but after restart the same happen blank black screen … Help me
Run System File Checker. It will replace the changed or corrupted system file with the original one.
Does explorer.exe start when you boot in Safe Mode.
yes sir…
Then it could be some add-on causing this issue. Use freeware ShellExView to check each one. See Point 9 here: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-explorer-crashes-freezes
Much appreciation for your help, Anand. It helped us out so much with the computer running Windows XP. Thank you.
Glad to be of help. :)
Something Changes Registry to cmd.exe /k start cmd.exe everytime… even If I change it to Exporer.exe
Mine had the same problem and i did system restore. It definitely works. Thanks for your help…
I’ve try to boot into safe mode, but same problem came, explorer.exe didn’t start, please help
thanks sir it work on my computer
Anand, a friends 2 month old, factory loaded Windows 8 PC shows a black screen upon logging in. When I tried to start explore.exe through the Task Manager, it says error. He can still access programs/files though the Browse option in Run New Task, but Desktop, Taskbar, and Windows Explorer will not initiliaze. He says he did not download any Freeware, but his PC is loaded with it. Run Control Panel and remove all unnecessary programs?
Start in Safe Mode. Disable IE addons as well as Explorer addons. Something is interfering with its starting properly.
Most OEM or Factory loaded PC’s come with lot of crapware installed. Open Control Panel and uninstall all unnecessary programs. Restart PC and see if it helps.
Thank anand..it worked..
If you can’t start in safe mode can I do it in normal mode because I can still access everything because it just has a blank screen
Sure you can do it that way too.
That’s what I have been doing but I am looking for a permanent solution.
waa it works ! but then it knows that my windows is not genuine :)
Thanx guyz! It worked like magic for me…been trying to fix this prob for a ling time.
I have the same problem, any solutions from anyone?
how can i do that in windows xp
Explorer will just plain NOT run – I can get taskmgr to run and run almost any command from there, but explorer.exe will not start — any suggestions. I had the “FBI” Warning message that was some kind of malware, but I got rid of that (I think). It won’t let you go anywhere – it just runs from the startup folder. Now when I let my system boot “normally” it just throws up the wallpaper and stays there, till I CTRL-ALT-DEL
How can i get in registry editor if every second error “explorer.exe has stopped working” appears?
Try in Safe Mode or in Clean Boot State.
yes it will work for windows 8.1
for mine if i change it, it changes it back at boot, any help?
My problem is that I can’t A: Use the Internet unless I use my Dad’s account, and B: I can start “WallpaperHost.exe” from Task Manager, but not the taskbar, and I can’t even play ROBLOX right now!
I almost forgot: The PC that I’m using to do this right now is a Microsoft Surface RT tablet and the PC I am having this problem with is a Dell PC I got for Christmas.
hello mr anand sir i might need ur help regarding this explorer problem.
i did this sfc/scannow but that didnt fixed the problem and i also checked my registry the shell already has explorer.exe nothing else. what do you suggest should i do ?
i dont wont to lose my data its in my window’s drive so i cant install a fresh copy of windows either .
or should i install a new windows with that option that saves old windows files in a folder named” windows old files.
Does it start when you start Windows in Safe Mode? Does explorer start when you boot Windows in Clean Boot State? https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-clean-boot-state-in-windows If it does, then definitely some other software is interfering.
Windows explorer says “the remote call procedure failed and did not execute”
sir ye hum karke dekh liya phir bhi jab hum reststsrs com. karte hai to phir se icon hide ho jaate hai iske liye kuch btaye my pc is windows xp
Dear Anand,
I Facing same problem in windows 7,but my My Task Manager aslo not start so how can i open registry Please Help
Can you press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys? You could open Task Manage then…
Hi,
i am pravin jadhav i am flow your steps but not solve explorer problem
Use task manager sortcut
Ctrl + shift + esc then open explorer
So after I log in it goes to black screen with mouse cursor (no explorer.exe running) When I log in as guest or safe mode I am fine. This has something to do specifically with my logon (admin) the only non guest account on my PC. I was am able to get to task manager from black screen with
ctrl+alt+delete, then I close out “Windows explorer” and run
expolrer.exe and bam im golden. My registry is fine, and I have run
AVAST and cant find anything wrong with pre boot scan or full scan……
any help?
Maybe a couple extra points may give clues:
Boot in regular user has no problems
Boot in admin comes up Black with curser
Find Windows Explorer.exe in processes but if I stop task, then restart it, it works fine.
I do have an annoying “Windows Script Host” window
Can not find script file
‘C:ProgramData{10ECF82F-406E-29A9-F1E8-592B216A8AA5}1.9.1.1fiber.js
Once or twice an hour it will dong and appear. Goes away by itself.
This thing did start when I got caught up in a MS Account creation.
I have tried all possible ways as the above, my shell is only of having value explorer.exe, but still having the same problem. Everytime, I need to go to task manger and have to run explorer and that’s is bothersome.
doesnt work
when i click F8 nothing happens
on windows 8
this happened to me after installing
Better Explorer
I have made a reset point but i don’t know how to revert to it
Uninstall Better Explorer, restart PC, Run system file checker. See if it helps.
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/create-system-restore-point
Look i have windows 8 right now and u asked me to reset to reset point. i did that everything came up but the icon for recycle bin was blank, there was nothing there. So i tried to revert to reset point again and when i ran system restore, it showed some error and said this applications will now shut down. Pls help me :)
I really appreciate it
I am facing the same issue, but I can’t even open the registry editor or msconfig file as they close as soon as opened. What do I do?
See of you can open them in safe mode.
Yep, I’m the same.
click the + sign with current version and find winlogon in there
https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_last_good.mspx?mfr=true
Nothing here has worked for me. can’t access system restore, have no disk to use to access (IE, no Vista PE), SCANNOW did not work to fix the problems. I CAN access in Safe mode, but can’t run any virus checker (Claims no end points), The Ultimate Boot CD that I have doesn’t work.
I’ve scanned the registry, no problems there. I just cannot get past that black screen with arrow.
I was told to download a file (From Microsoft a BDD-2007), but I get an error page (file does not exist)
Any options short of junking the computer?
See if you face the problem when you perform a Clean Boot: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-clean-boot-state-in-windows
It took a while. hours of patience, but finally figured out the trouble. I was finally able (about 10 tries) to get something. Seems that the restore points were accessible via another method (And I can’t for the life of me find it again!) I couldn’t run a virus check, even after setting up the hidden Admin function.
The problem was a faulty update for Vista. After I managed to access the restore points, 35 minutes later, it was functional. (Yeah, 35 minutes. Some of these desktop towers are old and slow!)
A problem this morning was due to a power issue. (brief outage caused a difficulty in Network and caused that PC to revert. )
What if it doesn’t start in safemode ?
Use freeware ShellExView. Disable all its addons and see if it helps. Else you have need to repair your Windows installation.
What should i disable out of all of them ?
I have performed the Windows Memory Diagnostics; i have loaded my computer in safe mode, but i still have the same result – blank screen with my cursor only showing on my screen, unless i do a combination of Ctrl+Alt+Del > Task Manager > explorer.exe. How can i fix this issue without having to reformat my PC?
same bro
My explorer doesnt start even in safe mode ..pls help
i have windows 8 and I have the black screen of death ive tried what was written but it was already there in the regedit ive tryed so many things I have managed to get start explorer but when I restart it happens again hope you can help
I checked “Shell” (explorer.exe) as it is written and it is ok but when i restart windows the problem is always the same: black screen. No desktop, no Taskbar! How can I fix this bug?
For me what happened was that when o turned it on a did not start up right error message popped up so I clicked on retry and then now it doesn’t display anything only my cursor and my computer isn’t responding to my keyboard
How can you start Windows in safe mode if it does not allow you to?
Pls see https://www.thewindowsclub.com/boot-windows-10-in-safe-mode and https://www.thewindowsclub.com/fix-safe-mode-not-working-in-windows-7
Well-written Article, Anand.
If nothing works, then you should probably perform a Windows Repair install.
But most of the times this isn’t necessary as it is often caused by viruses or programs.