How to Add Restart Explorer Context menu in Windows 11

If you are a Windows 11 user, you may have noticed that the Restart Explorer context menu is missing from the operating system. This can be frustrating if you are used to having this option available, but there is no need to worry. In this article, we will show you how to add the Restart Explorer context menu back to Windows 11 with just a few simple steps.

If you find that your Windows Explorer is not responding, you can restart it by using the Restart Explorer context menu. Here’s how to add the Restart Explorer context menu in Windows 11:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.

2. In the location field, type the following:

C:\Windows\System32\taskkill.exe /F /IM explorer.exe

3. Click Next.

4. Type a name for the shortcut, such as “Restart Explorer”.

5. Click Finish.

Now, whenever you want to restart Explorer, simply right-click on the desktop and select Restart Explorer from the context menu.

Why you might want to add Restart Explorer to your Context menu

If you’re a Windows power user, you probably find yourself restarting Explorer.exe (the Windows shell) quite often. Maybe you’re constantly tweaking your system and need to see the changes take effect immediately. Or maybe you’re just a neat freak who likes things to be tidy and in their place.

Whatever the reason, if you find yourself restarting Explorer.exe often, you might want to add a “Restart Explorer” option to your Context menu. That way, you can right-click on the desktop or any open window and quickly restart Explorer without having to open the Task Manager.

Here’s how to do it:

1. First, you need to create a new registry key. To do this, open the Registry Editor (press Windows+R, type “regedit” into the Run dialog, and press Enter).

2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

3. Right-click on the “shell” key, select “New,” and then select “Key.”

4. Name the new key “restart_explorer.”

5. With the new “restart_explorer” key selected, double-click on the “(Default)” value in the right-hand pane and set its value to “Restart Explorer.”

6. Next, you need to create a new value under the “restart_explorer” key. To do this, right-click on the “restart_explorer” key, select “New,” and then select “String Value.”

7. Name the new value “Icon.”

8. Double-click on the “Icon” value and set its value to “shell32.dll,4.”

9. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Once your computer has restarted, you should now see a “Restart Explorer” option when you right-click on the desktop or any open window. Simply select this option to quickly restart Explorer.exe.

How to add Restart Explorer to your Context menu

If you find yourself needing to restart Explorer often, you can add a “Restart Explorer” context menu option to make it easier. Here’s how:

1. First, open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows+R, typing “regedit” into the Run dialog, and pressing Enter.

2. Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

3. Right-click the “shell” key and select “New > Key.” Name the new key “Restart Explorer.”

4. Double-click the “(Default)” value in the “Restart Explorer” key and set its value data to “Restart Explorer.”

5. Right-click the “Restart Explorer” key and select “New > Key.” Name the new key “command.”

6. Double-click the “(Default)” value in the “command” key and set its value data to the following:

cmd.exe /c start explorer.exe

7. Close the Registry Editor.

Now, whenever you need to restart Explorer, simply right-click any empty space in a folder and select “Restart Explorer” from the context menu.

How to use Restart Explorer

Assuming that you have installed Windows 11, the first thing you need to do is open the Start Menu and click on the “Control Panel” icon.

Once the Control Panel window opens, locate and click on the “Folder Options” icon.

When the Folder Options window opens, click on the “View” tab.

Under the “Advanced settings” section, locate and click on the “Restart Explorer” check box.

Once you have clicked on the check box, click on the “Apply” button and then click on the “OK” button.

Your changes will now be saved and the next time you open Windows Explorer, you will see the “Restart Explorer” context menu option.

How to troubleshoot Restart Explorer

If you’re having trouble with your computer, one of the first things you can do is restart the Windows Explorer process. This will reload the Windows Explorer interface and hopefully fix any problems you’re having. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type “taskmgr” and press Enter to open the Task Manager.

3. Click the Processes tab.

4. Find the “Windows Explorer” process and right-click it.

5. Click “Restart” from the context menu.

That’s all there is to it! This should fix any problems you’re having with the Windows Explorer interface. If it doesn’t, you can try restarting your computer entirely.

Conclusion

As you can see, restarting Explorer is a very simple process that can be completed in just a few steps. By adding the “Restart Explorer” context menu option to your Windows 11, you can quickly and easily restart Explorer without having to go through the hassle of opening the Task Manager and ending the process manually. This is a great way to save time and keep your system running smoothly.