Uploaded September 2015 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
To install it: sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/169084d1312736398-explorer-add-restart-explorer-desktop-context-menu-add_restart_explorer_to_desktop_context_menu.zip
To Remove it: sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/168853d1312659076-explorer-add-restart-explorer-desktop-context-menu-remove_restart_explorer_to_desktop_context_menu.reg
Notes: The explorer.exe process is the user shell for Windows, and is used by such items as the desktop, File Explorer, Start menu, and taskbar. Restarting the explorer.exe process is to stop and start it to effectively refresh explorer.exe. When the explorer.exe process has been stopped (aka: "end task"), you will see a blank black desktop with your mouse pointer showing until explorer.exe has been started again.
This tutorial will show you how to add 'Restart Explorer' to the desktop context menu of all users in Windows 10.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use it.
Restart Explorer context menu usage:
When you right click or press and hold on the desktop and click/tap on Restart Explorer, you will see a command prompt window open indicating that it has stopped the explorer.exe process, and will wait on you to press a key before starting the explorer.exe process again.
This way you can use the context menu to stop explorer, do what you need to do while it's stopped, click/tap on the command prompt window to make it the active window again, and press any key to start explorer.
To Add "Restart Explorer" to Desktop Context Menu
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
Add_Restart_Explorer_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.zip
download
2. Save the .zip file to you desktop.
3. Unblock the downloaded .zip file.
4. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) both the .reg and .bat files to your desktop.
5. Move the .bat file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Click/tap on Continue to approve.
6. Double click/tap on the .reg file on your desktop to merge it.
7. Click/tap on Yes and OK to approve the merge.
To Remove "Restart Explorer" from Desktop Context Menu
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
Remove_Restart_Explorer_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
download
2. Save the .reg file to you desktop.
3. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
5. In File Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows\System32 folder, right click or press and hold on the Restart_Explorer.bat file, click/tap on Delete, and click/tap on Continue to approve.
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
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To install it: sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/169084d1312736398-explorer-add-restart-explorer-desktop-context-menu-add_restart_explorer_to_desktop_context_menu.zip
To Remove it: sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/168853d1312659076-explorer-add-restart-explorer-desktop-context-menu-remove_restart_explorer_to_desktop_context_menu.reg
Notes: The explorer.exe process is the user shell for Windows, and is used by such items as the desktop, File Explorer, Start menu, and taskbar. Restarting the explorer.exe process is to stop and start it to effectively refresh explorer.exe. When the explorer.exe process has been stopped (aka: "end task"), you will see a blank black desktop with your mouse pointer showing until explorer.exe has been started again.
This tutorial will show you how to add 'Restart Explorer' to the desktop context menu of all users in Windows 10.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use it.
Restart Explorer context menu usage:
When you right click or press and hold on the desktop and click/tap on Restart Explorer, you will see a command prompt window open indicating that it has stopped the explorer.exe process, and will wait on you to press a key before starting the explorer.exe process again.
This way you can use the context menu to stop explorer, do what you need to do while it's stopped, click/tap on the command prompt window to make it the active window again, and press any key to start explorer.
To Add "Restart Explorer" to Desktop Context Menu
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
Add_Restart_Explorer_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.zip
download
2. Save the .zip file to you desktop.
3. Unblock the downloaded .zip file.
4. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) both the .reg and .bat files to your desktop.
5. Move the .bat file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Click/tap on Continue to approve.
6. Double click/tap on the .reg file on your desktop to merge it.
7. Click/tap on Yes and OK to approve the merge.
To Remove "Restart Explorer" from Desktop Context Menu
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
Remove_Restart_Explorer_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
download
2. Save the .reg file to you desktop.
3. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
5. In File Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows\System32 folder, right click or press and hold on the Restart_Explorer.bat file, click/tap on Delete, and click/tap on Continue to approve.
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
Take a Second to Subscribe and Thumbs up if you're continuing to enjoy my videos.
Google+: plus.google.com/i/-j22pyjMW9Q:qwccVJEUTxM
Facebook: facebook.com/FlippinWindowsonYoutube
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/Flippinwindows
Battlefield 4: battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/user/Flippinwindows
Steam: steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198016937870
