Close File Explorer Window

Using Taskkill to close File Explorer ends some programs running in System Tray, because it closes the Desktop, while Ccleaner can close it without ending any programs, how can this be done with a batch file?

TairikuOkami said:

You can restart it ASAP, but I guess that is not exactly, what you want.

Code:

taskkill /im explorer.exe /f & explorer.exe

Not sure, how CCleaner does it, but you can try Process Monitor to find out. I do not want that junk in my PC.

It appears that this can only be done with compiled code using sc_close - bummer.....

KeithM said:

Don't know of a batch way, but simple in PowerShell:

Code:

$shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
foreach ($window in $shell.windows())
    {$window.close}

Keith

I am not familiar with this, but would it not close all open windows due to "foreach"? I am looking to close Explorer only.

LOL. Just tested & I mis-typed. If you'd run the code you would have gotten PowerShell errors and no windows closed! Earlier post now corrected.

You can have multiple file explorer windows open. The shell.windows collection consists solely of File Explorer windows, not all application windows. If you're nervous, run this code first to see what is in the windows collection:

Code:

$shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
foreach ($window in $shell.windows())
    {$window.locationname}

Keith

KeithM said:

You can have multiple file explorer windows open. The shell.windows collection consists solely of File Explorer windows, not all application windows. If you're nervous, run this code first to see what is in the windows collection:

Code:

$shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
foreach ($window in $shell.windows())
    {$window.locationname}

Keith

This code did list the Explorer windows, but I ran the "close" shell as Administrator with two Explorer windows open and it did not close either.

Just edited my original post $window.close was incorrect. Correct method is $window.quit().

Keith

KeithM said:

Just edited my original post $window.close was incorrect. Correct method is $window.quit().

Keith

I did not get yours' to work, but with your suggestion, I did find this one:

Code:

$a = (New-Object -comObject Shell.Application).Windows() |  ? { $_.FullName -ne $null} |
 ? { $_.FullName.toLower().Endswith('\explorer.exe') } 

 $a | % {  $_.Quit() }

The best of both our code versions, a one liner!

Code:

(New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application).Windows() | %{$_.quit()}

Keith