# CMD - Restart Explorer and Start Menu *See Also: [[RegEdit - Restart Explorer and StartMenu Context Bar]]* ## Contents - [[#Explorer|Explorer]] - [[#Enhanced Solution|Enhanced Solution]] - [[#Original Solution|Original Solution]] - [[#Start Menu|Start Menu]] - [[#Appendix: Links|Appendix: Links]] ## Explorer *Source: Originally from [How to Restart File Explorer in Windows 11 (winaero.com)](https://winaero.com/how-to-restart-file-explorer-in-windows-11/?utm_source=software&utm_medium=in-app&utm_campaign=winaerotweaker&utm_content=contextmenurestartexplorer#Restart_Explorerexe_in_Windows_11_using_a_script), but I enhanced some.* ### Enhanced Solution - Add `/fi` flag for calling `ShellCommon.dll` to ensure I am only killing to main shell, and not any other Explorer Windows. ```powershell cmd.exe /c taskkill /f /im explorer.exe /fi "modules eq Windows.Internal.ShellCommon.dll" & start explorer.exe ``` If you want to restart with a pause then: ```powershell cmd.exe /c @echo off & echo The explorer.exe process will be terminated & echo. & taskkill /f /im explorer.exe /fi "modules eq Windows.Internal.ShellCommon.dll" & echo. & echo Done & echo. & echo Press any key to start explorer.exe process & pause>NUL & start explorer.exe & exit ``` ### Original Solution - Using a [[2-Areas/Code/Windows Batch/_README|Batch]] File: `restart-explorer.bat`: ```powershell taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe exit ``` - Using Command Line: ```powershell taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe ``` ## Start Menu As you may already know, the Start menu in previous Windows 10 releases has been hosted by a system process called `ShellExperienceHost.exe`. In Windows 10 May 2019 Update Microsoft has separated it into its own process, called **`StartMenuExperienceHost.exe`**. This gives the Start menu a performance boost and resolves a number of issues like delays in launching some Win32 apps. Users will notice measurable improvements in Start reliability. The Start menu is now opening significantly faster. Full Path: `C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe` Restart Command: ```powershell taskkill /im StartMenuExperienceHost.exe /f\ start C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe ``` *** ## Appendix: Links - [[2-Areas/Code/_README|Code]] - [[Development]] - [[Windows]] - [[Microsoft DOS]] - [[Command Line]] - [[2-Areas/MOCs/PowerShell]] *Backlinks:* ```dataview list from [[CMD - Restart Explorer and Start Menu]] AND -"Changelog" ```