You might think that you need to restart your computer for the registry changes to take place. Not necessary. Restarting the explorer.exe process performs the same function. Explorer.exe is a software component in Windows that provides a Windows shell. The Windows Shell or Explorer creates and presents the entire Windows user interface, such as the taskbar, desktop, Windows Explorer, notification area (taskbar), Start menu, dialog boxes, and interface controls.
You may have heard of shutting down the explorer.exe process using the task manager. Using the Task Manager can be effective, but it forces the process to terminate instead of terminating it properly, giving the process the ability to safely and completely terminate. On Windows 10, you use the Task Manager to complete the process. Windows 7 and Vista have a hidden option in the Start menu and an additional function in the Shutdown menu in Windows XP that allows you to properly terminate and restart the explorer.exe process.
Windows 10 operating system
In Windows 10, you first need to open the Task Manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC on your keyboard, or by typing in Task Manager after clicking the Start button.
At the top, where it says Applications, find Windows Explorer and right-click it. One option would be to restart. In Windows 10, the process ends and then automatically restarts. You don’t need to go to File – Run New Task to start it up again like in Windows 7 and earlier.
Windows 7 and Vista
To properly terminate the explorer.exe process in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, open the Start menu. Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys and right-click any empty space on the Start menu. A short pop-up menu is displayed with two options. Select the Exit File Explorer option.
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The taskbar will disappear and the desktop icons will disappear. To access Task Manager and restart the explorer.exe process, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. A screen with five options will open. Select “Start Task Manager”.
In the Task Manager, select New Task (Run ) from the File menu.
The “Create New Task” dialog box appears. Enter “explorer.exe” (without quotes) in the “Open” edit box and click “OK”. The taskbar, desktop and other Windows components are restored.
To close Task Manager, choose Quit Task Manager from the File menu.
Windows XP
To properly shut down the explorer.exe process in Windows 7 and Windows Vista, open the Start menu and click the Turn Off Computer button at the bottom of the menu.
The desktop is painted in grayscale in the background, and the Turn Off Computer dialog box appears with three options and a Cancel button. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift and click the Cancel button.
As with Windows 7, the taskbar disappears and the desktop icons disappear. To access Task Manager and restart the explorer.exe process, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. In the Task Manager, select New Task (Run ) from the File menu.
The “Create New Task” dialog box appears. Enter “explorer.exe” (without quotes) in the “Open” edit box and click “OK”. The taskbar, desktop and other Windows components are restored.
To close Task Manager, choose Quit Task Manager from the File menu.
Exiting the Explorer process cleanly allows you to quit Explorer without risking blocking your Windows session if you force quit the explorer.exe process using Task Manager or the taskkill command. Enjoy!
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