File Explorer Separate Process Registry Key

This article explains how to configure Windows File Explorer to run individual folder windows in their own separate processes using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). Enabling this feature isolates each Explorer instance, preventing a crash in a single window from freezing the Windows taskbar, desktop shell, or other active File Explorer windows.

The Registry Value

The setting is controlled by a DWORD value named SeparateProcess located in the following registry path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Value Data Settings

• 1 (Enabled): File Explorer launches each new folder window in a separate explorer.exe process instance.
• 0 (Disabled / Default): File Explorer runs all folder windows inside the main shell process.

How to Modify the Setting in Regedit

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

3. Locate the value named SeparateProcess in the right pane.

   • If it does not exist, right-click the empty space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it SeparateProcess.

4. Double-click SeparateProcess.

5. Set the Value data field:

   • Enter 1 to run folder windows in individual processes.
   • Enter 0 to revert to the default shared process behavior.

6. Click OK.

7. Restart your computer or restart the Windows Explorer task via Task Manager for the changes to take effect.