Windows 11 File Explorer crash every time I click on a ZIP file

JK 0 Reputation points
2026-05-04T14:14:36.46+00:00

Windows 11 File Explorer crash every time I click on a ZIP file. How to I fix/further trouble shoot this issue

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
0 comments

4 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Alexey Kl 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-20T19:47:35.54+00:00

    Found the cause and the fix. My File Explorer crashed specifically when clicking/opening ZIP archives. Event Viewer showed:

    Faulting application name: explorer.exe

    Faulting module name: ADFSMenu.dll, version: 4.0.1.95

    Exception code: 0xc0000005

    ADFSMenu.dll belongs to Adobe Drive CS4 (an old sync component from Adobe Creative Suite 4). It stays registered as a shell/context-menu extension even long after CS4 itself was supposedly removed, and it crashes Explorer's context menu handling, which shows up specifically when interacting with archives.

    Fix: Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find "Adobe Drive CS4" (or "Adobe Master Suite CS4") and uninstall it. Worked immediately for me, no crashes since.

    If it's not listed under Installed apps (leftover orphaned registration), use ShellExView from Nirsoft to find and disable the ADFSMenu.dll shell extension instead, then restart explorer.exe.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Lester Bernard Reyes 85,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-05T00:31:21.97+00:00

    Hi, you need to open the Run command:

    User's image

    Or manually look for the file folder on your File Explorer:

    Go to C: > Users > click your Username >AppData > Roaming > Microsoft > Windows > Recent > AutomaticDestinations

    User's image

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Lester Bernard Reyes 85,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-04T14:50:28.39+00:00

    Hi, I'm Bernard. I'm happy to help!

    Does it all happen to all Zip files? Is it happening to a specific file? If it's happening to all, let us clear the cache of the file explorer and follow the steps below:

    Method 1. Clear the cache of File Explorer

    Open Run Command ( Press Windows key + R)

    Copy, paste, and enter the file path below:

    %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

    Delete everything inside the AutomaticDestinations folder

    Restart the PC and check.

    Method 1. Do a clean boot:

    A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program.

    • In the search box on the taskbar, type msconfig and select System Configuration from the results.
    • On the Services tab of System Configuration, select Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable all.
    • On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select Open Task Manager.
    • Under Startup in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then select Disable.
    • Close Task Manager.
    • On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select OK. When you restart the computer, it's in a clean boot environment.

    Troubleshooting reference: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

    Note: This is a public forum. I may respond shortly, but I apologize in advance for any delays. I am simply a fellow user trying to provide helpful insights and information.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.

  4. AI answer

    2026-05-04T14:15:06.7833333+00:00

    Use the built-in Windows troubleshooting steps for File Explorer and Windows Explorer crashes, focusing on system integrity and performance settings.

    1. Check for Windows updates and restart
      • Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
      • Select Check for updates, install all available updates, then restart the PC.
    2. Restart the device
      • Even if no updates require it, restart to ensure pending updates and changes are applied.
    3. Optimize performance and virtual memory (Windows 10 guidance also applies conceptually to Windows 11)
      1. On the taskbar, type control panel in the search box and open Control Panel.
      2. Go to System and Security > System > Advanced system settings.
      3. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, select Settings > Advanced.
      4. Ensure Adjust for best performance of is set to Programs.
      5. Under Virtual memory, select Change and make sure Automatically manage paging file size for all drives is selected.
      6. Select OK, then Apply, and restart the PC.
    4. Run System File Checker (SFC) to repair system files
      1. Click Start, type cmd.
      2. In results, right‑click cmd.exe and select Run as administrator.
      3. At the command prompt, run: 
              sfc /scannow
      4. Wait for the scan to complete; Windows will repair any missing or corrupted system files it finds.
    5. Run System Maintenance troubleshooter (Windows 10 guidance, similar tools exist in Windows 11)
      1. Open Control Panel.
      2. Set View by to Large icons or Small icons.
      3. Select Troubleshooting > View all > System Maintenance.
      4. Select Next > Try troubleshooting as an administrator and review the results.
    6. Run Automatic/Startup Repair if crashes persist (Windows 10 guidance)
      1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security.
      2. Select Recovery and under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
      3. On Choose an option, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
      4. Choose the account, enter the password, and let Automatic/Startup Repair run.
    7. Check for deeper Windows Explorer issues
      • If File Explorer still crashes when interacting with ZIP files, treat it as a Windows Explorer crash and:
        • Run SFC as above.
        • Start the PC in Safe Mode and test opening ZIP files. If the crash does not occur, a third‑party shell extension or startup item is likely involved.
        • Perform a Clean Boot (per the clean boot article referenced in the context) to identify problematic startup items or extensions.
    8. If nothing helps
      • If File Explorer still does not work reliably after these steps, use Feedback Hub (feedback-hub:) to report the issue so it can be investigated.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.