In case you didn’t know, a context menu handler is a shell extension handler whose job is to add comments to an existing context menu, such as cut, paste, print, etc.
Why does Windows crash when I right click?
File Explorer is the built-in file management tool, an essential component of your Windows system. So, let’s list some of the main reasons for its crashes and malfunctioning:
Corrupted system files – As we already mentioned above, the tool is a system component so if some files in the system get corrupted, File Explorer crashes in Windows. Incomplete or problematic Windows update – Let’s face it, sometimes, the Windows Update fails or a new patch can fix many other problems while breaking File Explorer.
Now that we cleared that up let’s see how we can fix File Explorer if it crashes when you right-click.
How do I fix a File Explorer that crashes when I right click?
Before getting into the software troubleshooting, let’s make some preliminary steps:
Restart your computer. This is a method that sometimes can fix any problem almost magically. That’s because for some reason, the system didn’t load properly or there are some software conflicts. Close all the programs you’re using right now after saving your progress. Install all the latest Windows updates. If your machine can’t connect to the Windows Update servers, this guide will help you.
If you’ve gone through these simple tasks, let’s try to fix the problem by using the solutions below.
1. Restart Windows Explorer
You can restart the Windows Explorer service in order to potentially fix crashes and run File Explorer without problems. The short guide below will support you.
- Once you’ve done this, check whether the File Explorer crashes when I right-click the issue persists.
2. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
Although the Search and Indexing troubleshooter is for Windows Search, it will also look for any troubles within File Explorer.
3. Perform an SFC scan
Besides performing an SFC scan manually, you can let a third-party software help you do that automatically, such as Restoro. It is a great program because it offers you a detailed diagnosis of your operating systems and eventually it fixes or replaces any damaged element. SPONSORED
4. Update Windows
5. Perform a clean boot
Clean Boot could be a solution for many problems, and it may fix ours as well. It starts Windows with a minimal number of drivers and software. Be aware that your computer may lose some functionality after you perform a Clean Boot. But right after you start your PC, typically, the functionality will return, so there’s no need to worry about that.
6. Use a third-party file manager
If a clean boot didn’t help, then your problem is caused by a bad context menu handler. And below, you’ll find the best and fastest way to handle your files. When File Explorer crashes by right-clicking, you’ll need to install one third-party software that can manage your files instead of the built-in tool. This tool can view and manage all of your installed software and files. So not only will this app help you would drastically, but it is also straightforward to use and doesn’t require any previous experience. The interface is self-explanatory and simplistic, giving you a minimalist look while helping you find your files quickly. Finding relevant data has never been easier with this excellent app. ⇒ Get Copernic All the solutions we listed above work for File Explorer keeps crashing in Windows 10 and 11. So, there you have it; each one of these solutions should resolve your File Explorer issue when clicking right with the mouse. You might also be interested in our guide on what to do if File Explorer is slow on Windows 10 & 11 because there might also be some helpful solutions there. Do let us know which of our solutions helped you fix the problem with the File Explorer app in the comments section below.
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