What happens if you terminate explorer.exe

From there you can manage your files as usual. By default, Windows 10 includes a File Explorer shortcut on the taskbar. The icon looks like a folder. Click or tap on it, and File Explorer is opened. The icon looks a bit different from the one in Windows 10, but it also depicts a folder.

File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. How do I restart Explorer exe from command prompt? How do I turn on File Explorer? How do I change the appearance of File Explorer in Windows 10? How do I change the view in File Explorer? Why is my file explorer not in dark mode? How do I stop Windows Explorer from automatically scrolling in listview?

How do I turn off auto scroll on my laptop? How do I stop Windows 7 from scrolling automatically? Customize the Taskbar in Windows Browse All Microsoft Office Articles What Is svchost. Browse All Privacy and Security Articles Browse All Linux Articles Browse All Buying Guides. Best Portable Monitors. Best Gaming Keyboards. Best Drones. Best 4K TVs. Best iPhone 13 Cases.

Best Tech Gifts for Kids Aged Best 8K TVs. Best VR Headsets. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories.

Best Linux Laptops. Obviously, the Session Manager stays alive after you've logged in. It watches both winlogon and csrss to wait for either one of them to end. If this occurs as part of a standard routine, Windows will shut down as normal. But if either process ends unexpectedly, smss will freeze up your computer. Like the above processes, trying to end this one through the Task Manager results in a warning and then a locked-up system.

Here's a newer process that works almost exclusively with elements new to Windows If you've used a previous version of Windows, you likely noticed the fresh coat of paint that Windows 10 applied to staples like the clock and calendar. The Shell Experience Host process handles these elements, along with the color and transparency effects of the Start menu and Taskbar.

In addition to the updated look, this process also works to display Store apps in a window. If you use a slideshow as your wallpaper, you can thank Shell Experience Host for making it happen. Unlike many other processes on this list, closing it won't crash your system. Instead, Windows will simply restart it after a few seconds.

But there's no reason to close it—doing so won't change the look of Windows. This entry doesn't hold Windows together, but it does handle much of the graphical interface you use every day. But what happens if you end Windows Explorer in the Task Manager?

As it turns out, terminating Windows Explorer will not only close any open File Explorer windows, but it will also render the Start menu, Taskbar, and System Tray unusable. However, restarting Explorer can actually prove to be helpful. If your Start Menu or Taskbar starts acting up , a quick restart of this process can clear up issues.