Opening Word, Excel, or other Office files directly from Windows Explorer sometimes causes the Explorer window to freeze, display a white screen, or close unexpectedly. This disrupts file access and can interrupt your workflow, especially when the issue persists across both local and cloud-synced folders. Several root causes can trigger this problem, ranging from preview pane conflicts to corrupted system files or faulty context menu extensions. The following methods address these causes with effective solutions, starting with the most effective approaches based on user reports and technical forums.

Turn Off the Preview Pane and Details Pane in File Explorer

File Explorer’s preview and details panes can conflict with Office file types, causing Explorer to hang when previewing or displaying metadata. Disabling these panes often resolves the issue immediately.

Step 1: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E or clicking the folder icon on your taskbar.

Step 2: On the top menu, select View to see the various folder view options.

Step 3: Click to uncheck both Preview pane and Details pane if they are enabled. This removes the file preview and metadata display from the Explorer window.

Step 4: Close and reopen File Explorer to apply the changes. Test by opening an Office file directly from Explorer.

Disabling these panes prevents Explorer from attempting to render file previews, which is a common source of crashes with certain Office files or after recent updates.

Clear and Reset Quick Access Folders

Corrupted or inaccessible Quick Access links can trigger File Explorer crashes, especially when Office file dialogs try to reference these locations. Unpinning all Quick Access folders and clearing the cache can resolve the issue.

Step 1: In File Explorer, locate the Quick Access section in the left sidebar.

Step 2: Right-click each pinned folder under Quick Access and select Unpin from Quick access until no folders remain.

Step 3: Open the File Explorer Options dialog by searching for it in the Start menu.

Step 4: Under the General tab, click the Clear button next to "Clear File Explorer history."

Step 5: Click OK to close the dialog, then restart File Explorer.

This process removes broken or inaccessible folder references that Office and Explorer may attempt to access, preventing related crashes.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM to Repair System Files

Corrupted or missing system files can destabilize Explorer, especially after Windows updates or system changes. The System File Checker and Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM) scan for and repair these files.

Step 1: Open the Start menu, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter:


dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

This command checks for and repairs issues in the Windows image.

Step 3: After DISM completes, type the following and press Enter:


sfc /scannow

This scans and repairs corrupted or missing system files.

Step 4: Restart your computer once the scan finishes. Test Explorer by opening Office files again.

These tools address underlying system corruption that can cause repeated Explorer instability.

Disable Third-Party Context Menu Extensions

Extensions added to the right-click menu by third-party applications can interfere with Explorer’s operation, especially when opening or right-clicking Office files. Disabling these extensions helps isolate the cause.

Step 1: Download and run ShellExView (a free utility from NirSoft).

Step 2: In ShellExView, go to Options and select Hide All Microsoft Extensions to focus on non-Microsoft items.

Step 3: Select all remaining extensions, right-click, and choose Disable Selected Items.

Step 4: Restart your computer and check if Explorer still crashes when opening Office files.

Step 5: If the problem is resolved, re-enable extensions one at a time, restarting after each, to identify the problematic entry. Remove or update the offending application as needed.

This method targets unstable or outdated add-ons that can cause Explorer to freeze or close unexpectedly.

Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause Explorer to crash, particularly when rendering Office file previews or handling complex file dialogs.

Step 1: Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Update driver.

Step 3: Select Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.

Step 4: If the issue persists, return to Device Manager, right-click the graphics card, and select Properties. Under the Driver tab, try Roll Back Driver if available, or download a stable version directly from the manufacturer's website.

Driver updates or rollbacks can resolve compatibility problems introduced by recent system or graphics updates.

Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

Some users notice Explorer crashes begin after a Windows update. Removing the most recent update can restore system stability.

Step 1: Open Settings with Windows + I, then go to Update & Security and select Windows Update.

Step 2: Click View update history, then Uninstall updates.

Step 3: Select the most recent update and click Uninstall. Restart your computer and test Explorer again.

Rolling back problematic updates can quickly resolve new issues that coincide with recent patches.

Test with a New User Profile

Corruption in your Windows user profile can affect Explorer’s stability. Creating a new user account can determine if the issue is profile-specific.

Step 1: Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other users.

Step 2: Click Add account and follow the prompts to create a new user account.

Step 3: Log in with the new account and test opening Office files from Explorer.

If Explorer works normally in the new profile, consider migrating files and settings to the new account or repairing the old profile.

Direct, targeted changes such as disabling the preview pane or clearing Quick Access links often restore Explorer’s stability with Office files. If these steps do not resolve the issue, system repairs and driver updates provide further solutions without needing a full Windows reinstall.