How to Turn Off Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is a fundamental component of the Windows operating system, providing users with a graphical interface to navigate through files, folders, and drives. However, there may be instances where you want to disable Windows Explorer for various reasons, such as improving system performance or troubleshooting issues. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to turn off Windows Explorer on Windows 10, 8, and 7.
Before proceeding, it is essential to note that disabling Windows Explorer may affect certain functionalities of your system. For instance, you will not be able to access the file system using the File Explorer interface. Nevertheless, if you still wish to proceed, here’s how to turn off Windows Explorer:
Step 1: Open Task Manager
1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Navigate to the Processes Tab
1. In Task Manager, click on the Processes tab.
Step 3: Find Windows Explorer
1. Scroll through the list of processes to find Windows Explorer.
Step 4: End the Process
1. Right-click on Windows Explorer and select End Task.
Step 5: Confirm the Action
1. A dialog box will appear, asking for confirmation. Click on End Task again to confirm.
Step 6: Restart Windows Explorer
1. After ending the process, you will notice that the Task Manager will automatically close.
2. To restart Windows Explorer, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys again to open Task Manager.
3. Click on the File menu at the top-left corner, and then select New Task (Run).
4. In the Create New Task dialog box, type explorer.exe in the Open field.
5. Click on OK to start Windows Explorer.
By following these steps, you have successfully turned off and restarted Windows Explorer. If you want to turn it off permanently, you can disable the Windows Explorer service in the Services Management Console.
Disabling Windows Explorer Service
1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Scroll through the list of services to find Windows Explorer.
4. Double-click on it to open the properties.
5. In the General tab, change the Startup type to Disabled.
6. Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes.
Remember that disabling the Windows Explorer service may cause unexpected behavior in your system. Proceed with caution and only if you are confident in your technical abilities.
By following this guide, you should now have a clear understanding of how to turn off Windows Explorer on your Windows system. Whether you are looking to improve performance or troubleshoot issues, these steps will help you achieve your goal.
