[Updated] Windows 11 File Explorer (explorer.exe) crashing on right-click bug acknowledged (potential workarounds)

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on April 9, 2022) follows:

While Windows 10 was supposed to be the last version of Windows, Microsoft released Windows 11 in October last year. For those running a Windows 10 machine and supported hardware, the upgrade to Windows 11 is completely free.

The latest from Microsoft features a redesigned start menu, modified taskbar and gaming features such as DirectStorage ported over from the Xbox Series X and S.

While the aforementioned changes might be good on paper, issues such as Task Manager crashing on Performance Tab have negatively impacted the user experience for some.

That said, Windows 11 users are now reporting (1,2,3,4,5) that the File Explorer (explorer.exe) is crashing whenever they right-click.

Many are frustrated because the problem is preventing them from copying and renaming files or performing other operations.

Does anyone have problems right clicking in Windows 11? I mainly have problems with it on the desk, but also sometimes in the store or on webpages. When i right click it freezes but not completely, it just shows that its thinking/working. You know, the pulsating circle. It can take up to a minute before it shows whatever menu its supposed to. I tried updating the drivers on the mousepad and my gaming mouse, and it doesn’t help. I have no idea whats wrong or how to fix it. Its a gaming laptop from 2018 and the brand is MSI if that helps.
(Source)

Sometimes my windows explorer just simply, freezes. And I’m on the latest stable release. Had to restart the entire process somehow with task manager, navigating via arrow keys to windows explorer process and end task, start new explorer task. Does not happen regularly but when it happens, it’s a pain.
(Source)

Fortunately, a Microsoft Software Engineer has acknowledged the issue on the Windows 11 subreddit and said they are working on fixing it. But there is no ETA on when it will be fixed.

There’s a bug in 22593 making explorer crash sometimes when the context menu dismisses. Originally we thought it was limited to the rename action (which is what we wrote in the known issues in the flight notes), but now believe any action with the context menu could result in this. TLDR we’re working on it
(Source)

Also, there is a workaround that might help circumvent the right-click crashing issue on Windows 11 File Explorer.

Alternatively, users can try rolling back to a previous version of Windows 11 and see it if helps. We hope Microsoft developers soon find out the reason why Windows 11 File Explorer is crashing on right-click.

Rest assured, we will be updating this space once the problem is resolved so stay tuned for more information.

01:21 pm (IST): The latest Windows 11 KB5015882 update has reportedly fixed the File Explorer crashing issue.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated Windows Section so be sure to follow them as well.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.