File Explorer Freezes Or Crashes When Creating New Folder On Windows 10/11

Sometimes when you create a new folder in Windows explorer (File explorer) it freezes or crashes. It is mostly because you have not updated your PC or need some settings changes in the registry or windows settings. But if you are thinking about how to solve it then do not worry. In this article, we have several methods that can help you. Try them and get rid of the problem. Let us start!

Method 1 – Restart The Windows Explorer

 

Step 1 – Right click on the taskbar and from the appeared list click on task manager

 

Task Manager

 

Step 2 – Under the processes tab find Windows explorer or explorer.exe and then right-click on it

Step 3 – From the appeared list, click on the end task

 

End Task

 

Step 4 – Now again open windows explorer and try to create a folder then check if the issue is solved.

 

Method 2 – Update The Display Adapter Driver

 

Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type devmgmt.msc in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the device manager window

 

Device

 

Step 3 – Scroll down and expand display adapters option

Step 4 – Right click on your adapter device and then click on update driver

 



Update Driver

 

Step 5 – Select Search automatically for drivers option and then if there are any updates it will show up in the screen and you will need to update it else it will show the best drivers for your device are already installed

 

Search Drivers

 

Step 6 – Close the window if you have updated the driver restart your system and then check if the issue is solved.

 

Method 3 – Repair The Corrupted System Files

 

Step 1 – Open the command prompt as an administrator. To do this, type cmd in the windows search then hold Ctrl + Shift keys together and hit enter



Step 2 – A user account control window will open, click on yes

Step 3 – Type the following command in the command prompt and then hit enter

sfc /scannow

 

Scan

 

Step 4 – It will take a few seconds to finish the process. Once done restart the computer and then check if the issue is been resolved.

 

Method 4 – Uninstall Autodesk Inventor

 

In some cases installing Autodesk inventor may cause the folders to freeze in the file explorer. So uninstall it and then restart your system.

Step 1 – To uninstall open the windows settings using Windows + I keys together

Step 2 – Click on apps

 

Apps

 

Step 3 – In the apps & features page, find Autodesk inventor and select it

Step 4 – Click on uninstall button and wait till the uninstallation is complete. Now check if the problem is solved.

 

Uninstall

 

Method 5 – Modify Shell Extensions Settings From The Registry Editor

 

Step 1 –  Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type regedit in the run prompt and hit enter

 

Regedit

 

Step 3 – A user account control window will open click on yes. This will open the registry editor

Step 4 – Navigate to the following path in the registry editor or just copy the following path and paste it in the address bar of the registry editor then hit enter

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

 

Shell Extensions

 

Step 5 – Then click on approved

Step 6 – On the right side search for the below key. To search easily you can press Ctrl + F keys together and paste the below key in find what field then click on find next once

{289AF617-1CC3-42A6-926C-E6A863F0E3BA}

 

Approved

 

Step 7 – Double click on the value and in the value data field remove whatever is present and enter the value as 0

 

Value Data

 

Step 8 – To save the changes click on ok

Step 9 – Restart the computer and then check if the issue is resolved.

 

Method 6 – Modify The Registry Key

Note: The below registry path is not found in all computers. If the path is not present in your computer registry then skip this method and follow the next.

Step 1 –  Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

Step 2 – Type regedit in the run prompt and hit enter

 

Regedit

 

Step 3 – A user account control window will open click on yes. This will open the registry editor

Step 4 – Navigate to the following path in the registry editor or just copy the following path and paste it in the address bar of the registry editor then hit enter

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8E757038-BE02-4bce-9680-E4BE0C6C70CD}

 

Path

 

Step 5 – Right-click on the ShellFolder and from the appeared list select permissions

 

Permissions

 

Step 6 – Click on change button

Step 7 – Enable Replace for the subcontainers and objects option by clicking on the checkbox beside it (tick mark should be present)

Step 8 – Also enable Replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this subject option

Step 9 – Click on ok

Step 10 – In the list of usernames, select your username and click on permissions for users

Step 11 – Click on the checkbox beside Allow in the full control option. Then click on ok

Step 12 – Back in the registry editor double-click on the Attributes icon located in the DWORD

Step 13 – Set the value data as 0 and click on ok

Step 14 – Restart the computer and then check if the issue solved.

     

    Method 7 – Reset The PC

     

    Step 1 – Open the Windows settings using Windows + I keys together

    Step 2 – Click on update & security

     

    Update Security

     

    Step 3 – On the left click on recovery

     

    Recovery

     

    Step 4 – At the right side, under reset this PC click on get started button

     

    Get Started

     

    Step 5 – Choose keep my files option and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. Then check if the issue is solved.

     

    Method 8 – Check For The Windows Updates

     

    Step 1 – Open the windows settings using Windows + I keys together

    Step 2 – Click on update & security

     

    Update Security

     

    Step 3 – Click on windows update at the left

    Step 4 – At the right side, click on check for updates button. If there are any updates it will get installed. If there are no updates then it shows you’re up to date

     

    Check Updaets

     

    Step 5 – Restart the computer and then check if the issue is resolved.

     

    Method 9 – Set The Wallpaper As Picture

     

    Step 1 – Open the windows settings using Windows + I keys together

    Step 2 – Click on personalization

     

    Personilisation

     

    Step 3 – Click on background that is at the left

     

    Background

     

    Step 4 – Make sure the background is not set as slideshow. To do this at the right side, in the background dropdown select picture.

     

    Picture

     

    Method 10 – Run The System Maintenance Troubleshooter

     

    Step 1 – Open the run prompt using Windows + R keys together

    Step 2 – Type control in the run prompt and hit enter. This will open the control panel window

     

    Control

     

    Step 3 – From the view by dropdown select large icons

     

    Large Icons

     

    Step 4 – Click on troubleshooting

     

    Troubleshoot

     

    Step 5 – Under system and security click on run maintenance tasks

     

    Run Tasks

     

    Step 6 – Click on next and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. Once done check if the issue is solved.

     

    Method 11 – Hide Hidden Files, Folders And Drives

     

    Step 1 – Open the File explorer using Windows + E keys together

    Step 2 – Click on view tab at the top

     

    View

     

    Step 3 – Then select the options drop down and click on change folder and search options

     

    Chnage Folder

     

    Step 4 – Go to the view tab



    Step 5 – Under hidden files and folders, select don’t show hidden files, folders or drives by clicking on the radio button beside it

     

    View Tab

     

    Step 6 – To save the changes click on apply and ok

     

    Method 12 – Disable Quick Access And File Preview Options

     

    Step 1 – Open the File explorer using Windows + E keys together

    Step 2 – Click on view tab at the top

     

    View

     

    Step 3 – Then select the options drop down and click on change folder and search options

     

    Chnage Folder

     

    Step 4 – Go to the general tab

    Step 5 – In the open file explorer to dropdown select This PC

     

    General Tab

     

    Step 6 – Uncheck the options Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access ( a tick mark should not be present )

    Step 7 – Now click on the clear button beside clear File explorer history

     

    Clear

     

    Step 8 – Click on apply

    Step 9 – Go to the view tab and disable Show preview handlers in preview pane option by clicking on the checkbox beside it (tick mark should not be present)

     

    Preview

     

    Step 10 – Save the changes by clicking on apply and ok

    Step 11 – Also you can disable the preview pane in the file explorer by holding Alt + P keys together.

     

    Method 13 – Upgrade The PC

     

    Step 1 – Go to the Microsoft website and download the media creation tool by clicking on the download now button

    Step 2 – Once downloaded, double click on the downloaded .exe file to run it

    Step 3 – Accept the license agreement and click on Upgrade this PC now option by clicking on the radio button beside it. Then click on next

    Step 4 – Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the upgrade process

    Step 5 – Restart the computer and then check if the issue is resolved.

     

    That’s it! I hope the above provided information is helpful. Let us know which method worked for you. Thank you and happy reading!!