How to Start Windows Explorer After Killing It in Windows 11 Easily

By / September 22, 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) is the process that powers the taskbar, Start menu, desktop, and file manager in Windows 11.

  • If you kill it, your desktop will vanish, but you can easily restart it using Task Manager, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

  • Restarting Windows Explorer often fixes UI glitches, frozen taskbar issues, or missing icons.

Have you ever force-closed Windows Explorer in Windows 11, only to see your entire desktop disappear? Don’t panic—you didn’t break your PC. Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) is just a process that controls the graphical shell of Windows, and restarting it is often the quickest fix for system glitches.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you exactly how to start Windows Explorer after killing it in Windows 11 easily. We’ll cover different methods, troubleshooting tips, and best practices so you’ll always know what to do if your taskbar or desktop suddenly vanishes.

Table of Contents

  1. What is Windows Explorer (explorer.exe)?

  2. Why Kill or Restart Windows Explorer?

  3. What Happens When You Kill Windows Explorer?

  4. Method 1: Restart Explorer via Task Manager

  5. Method 2: Use “Run New Task” in Task Manager

  6. Method 3: Restart Explorer Using Command Prompt

  7. Method 4: Restart Explorer with PowerShell

  8. Method 5: Restart via Keyboard Shortcut Trick

  9. Troubleshooting: What If Explorer Won’t Restart?

  10. Best Practices for Smooth Explorer Restarts

  11. Conclusion

  12. FAQs

What is Windows Explorer (explorer.exe)?

Windows Explorer (also known as File Explorer) is the graphical shell process in Windows 11. It handles:

  • The desktop

  • The taskbar and Start menu

  • System tray and icons

  • File browsing windows

Without it, your screen looks empty—like Windows is broken. But don’t worry, restarting explorer.exe brings everything back instantly.

Why Kill or Restart Windows Explorer?

You might need to restart Windows Explorer if:

  • The taskbar freezes.

  • The Start menu stops responding.

  • File Explorer is laggy or unresponsive.

  • Desktop icons disappear.

  • You’re applying registry hacks or UI tweaks.

Instead of rebooting your entire PC, restarting Explorer is a faster fix.

What Happens When You Kill Windows Explorer?

When you end the explorer.exe process:

  • Your desktop background remains, but icons disappear.

  • The taskbar, Start menu, and system tray vanish.

  • You can’t use shortcuts like Alt+Tab to switch apps.

Basically, you’re left with a blank screen—but don’t worry, apps you already had open keep running in the background.

Method 1: Restart Explorer via Task Manager

The simplest method is through Task Manager.

Steps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

  2. If it opens in compact mode, click More details.

  3. Go to the Processes tab.

  4. Scroll down and find Windows Explorer.

  5. Right-click it → Select Restart.

✔️ Your taskbar and desktop will reappear instantly.

Method 2: Use “Run New Task” in Task Manager

If Explorer doesn’t show up in the process list, you can manually launch it.

Steps:

  1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).

  2. Click File → Run new task.

  3. Type:

    explorer.exe

  4. Press Enter or click OK.

✔️ A fresh Windows Explorer instance will start.

Method 3: Restart Explorer Using Command Prompt

You can also use Command Prompt (CMD).

Steps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del → Task Manager.

  2. Click File → Run new task → type:

    cmd

  3. In Command Prompt, type:

    start explorer.exe

  4. Hit Enter.

✔️ Explorer will reload immediately.

Method 4: Restart Explorer with PowerShell

PowerShell gives you more control.

Steps:

  1. Open Task Manager → File → Run new task.

  2. Type:

    powershell

  3. Run these commands:

    Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
    Start-Process explorer.exe

✔️ This stops and relaunches Explorer cleanly.

Method 5: Restart via Keyboard Shortcut Trick

If you prefer shortcuts, this is a neat trick:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → open Task Manager.

  2. Use Alt + F → select Run new task.

  3. Type explorer.exe → press Enter.

✔️ Works even if your mouse isn’t responsive.

Troubleshooting: What If Explorer Won’t Restart?

Sometimes, Explorer may not restart smoothly. Try these fixes:

Problem Solution
Explorer doesn’t start Reboot your PC manually
“Access denied” error Run Task Manager as Administrator
Keeps crashing Check for Windows updates or corrupt system files
Desktop icons still missing Right-click desktop → View → Show desktop icons

Best Practices for Smooth Explorer Restarts

  • Always save your work before restarting Explorer—it can close file windows.

  • Use Task Manager’s Restart option instead of killing processes manually.

  • If crashes are frequent, run System File Checker (sfc /scannow).

  • Keep Windows 11 updated to prevent recurring bugs.

Conclusion

Killing Windows Explorer in Windows 11 isn’t the end of the world—it’s actually a common troubleshooting step. Whether your taskbar freezes or File Explorer stops responding, you can easily restart it using Task Manager, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

Next time your desktop disappears, don’t panic—just relaunch explorer.exe and your Windows environment will be back in seconds.

FAQs

1. What does restarting Windows Explorer do?

It refreshes the Windows interface, fixing glitches with the taskbar, Start menu, and File Explorer.

2. Can I restart Explorer without Task Manager?

Yes—you can use Command Prompt or PowerShell to start explorer.exe.

3. Will killing Windows Explorer close my apps?

No. Running apps stay open; only the Windows interface is affected.

4. Why does Explorer keep crashing on Windows 11?

Possible reasons: corrupted files, buggy updates, or faulty third-party extensions.

5. Is it safe to kill and restart Explorer?

Yes—it’s a common troubleshooting step and won’t harm your PC.

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