21thsoft: how to restart explorer in Windows 11

Restart File Explorer on Windows 11:

Method #01: Using Task Manager

First up, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously. Alternatively, you can also simply right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager.

Click on More details if the Task Manager opens in miniature form.

Scroll through the Processes and find Windows Explorer. Select it and then click on Restart towards the bottom right corner.

The visual elements on your screen will disappear momentarily and then return. This means that Windows Explorer was successfully closed and restarted.

Method #02: Using Command Prompt/Windows Terminal/PowerShell

Another way to restart Windows Explorer is through a Windows Terminal such as the Command Prompt or PowerShell. In our example, we’re going with the former but the commands are the same for both.

Press Start, type cmd (or powershell), and then click on Run as administrator.

Now type the following command:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

Then press Enter. As soon as you do that, you will see the desktop turn 
black and the Start menu and the taskbar disappear. This means that you 
have successfully closed Windows Explorer. To start it back up again, 
type the following command:

start explorer.exe

Then press Enter. The visual elements will return promptly.

Method #03: Using a batch script

You can also create a batch script to restart Windows Explorer so that the next time you need to do so, you need only to double-click on it. Here’s how:

Right-click on the desktop and select New > Text document.

Open this Notepad file, then type the following:

@echo off

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

start explorer.exe

Alternatively, you can copy the above and paste it into the text document.

Then click on File.

Select Save as.

Give this file a name and save its extensions as .bat. Then click on the drop-down menu next to Save as type.

Select All files

Then click Save.

Your batch file to restart Windows Explorer is now created on the desktop. Whenever you need to restart Windows Explorer next, simply double-click on this .bat file.