Some Windows users are facing a serious issue with their Windows Explorer. Whenever they right-click on any Windows Explorer window, the window crashes. The cause of this error is determined to be a bad context menu handler added by some third-party program. To clear this handler, you can try clearing out the history of your Windows Explorer. If that does not work, there are some other solutions too that you can try.
This article will guide all those Windows users who are facing this Windows Explorer crash issue whenever they right-click on the Explorer window. This crash limits the Explorer’s functionality in every way and makes it impossible for the Windows user to use the default Windows Explorer. To fix this issue, we have compiled all the possible solutions in this article with step-by-step instructions for each solution. So without any further ado, let’s get into it.
Page Contents
How to fix Windows Explorer crashes after right-click issue?
The first thing that you should do here is clear out the Explorer history. If that does not work, you can try the system file checker or perform a clean boot. So let’s take a look at all of these possible solutions. Try all the solutions mentioned below, one after the other, until you find the one that resolves your problem.
Clear Windows Explorer History:
File Explorer history is a database of every directory you have accessed recently using the default Windows Explorer.
- Click on the search bar and look for “Control Panel.”
- Once it shows up in the results, click on Open.
- Set the view by option at the right corner as Large icons.
- Click on File Explorer Options.
- In the General tab, you will see the “Clear File Explorer History” option. Right next to it, you will see the “Clear” button. Click on it.
After that, try right-clicking on an Explorer Window again. If your Explorer crashes again, try the next solution mentioned below.
Launch Folder Windows in a separate window:
There is a specific setting in the folder options section of Windows. Have this setting enabled in your computer, and your crash issue should be resolved.
- Click on the search bar and look for “Control Panel.”
- Once it shows up in the results, click on Open.
- Set the view by option at the right corner as Large icons.
- Click on File Explorer Options.
- You will see the “Launch Folder Windows in a separate windows” option under the Advanced Settings section in the view tab. Check the box next to it to enable it.
- Click on Apply and then click on Ok.
After that, try right-clicking on an Explorer Window again. If your Explorer crashes again, try the next solution mentioned below.
Perform a clean boot:
Performing a clean boot fixes most of Windows crash issues. So give this a try too.
- Press Windows Key + R to open up the Run dialog box.
- Enter “msconfig” here and then click on Ok.
- Click on the Services tab and then check the box next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
- Now click on the Disable All button.
- Now go to the Startup tab of the System Configuration window and click on “Open Task Manager.”
- Click on each of the items in the list that pops up one by one and click the “Disable” button every time.
- Close the Task Manager and then in the startup tab of the system configuration window, click on Ok.
- Now restart your computer.
After that, try right-clicking on an Explorer Window again. If your Explorer crashes again, try the next solution mentioned below.
Run the SFC scan:
System File Checker or SFC is a Windows built-in utility program that scans the system for any missing or corrupted system file. If it detects any such file, the utility fixes it. So SFC a try to fix your Windows Explorer crash issue too.
- Press Windows Key + R to open up the Run dialog box.
- Enter “cmd” here and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
- Click on Yes in the UAC pop-up window.
- Enter the following command in the cmd window and press the Enter key.
sfc /scannow
- Let the process complete, and after that, restart your computer.
Now try right-clicking on an Explorer Window again. If your Explorer crashes again, try the next solution mentioned below.
Run netsh winsock reset:
Another process that you can try running in the command prompt window to fix the Windows Explorer crash issue is the netsh and Winsock reset process.
- Press Windows Key + R to open up the Run dialog box.
- Enter “cmd” here and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
- Click on Yes in the UAC pop-up window.
- Enter the following command in the cmd window and press the Enter key.
netsh winsock reset
- Let the process complete, and after that, restart your computer.
Now try right-clicking on an Explorer Window again. If your Explorer crashes again, try the next solution mentioned below.
Use a third-party explorer program:
If none of the solutions mentioned above worked for you, opt for a third-party program or application with the same functionality as Windows Explorer. There are several such programs for Windows. Install any program that you prefer and make that application your default Explorer program to access the different directories of your Windows computer.
These are the solutions to fix the Windows Explorer crashes after right-click issue in a Windows computer. If you have any questions or queries about this article, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.