# Anki crashes whenever I open File Explorer **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [September 7, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131 "2020-09-07T12:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![what53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@what53](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/what53)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/1 "2020-09-07T12:19:08Z")
I’m trying to make a language-learning deck, but whenever I try and attach a sound Anki crashes after the File Explorer opens. Usually the File Explorer opens and it lets me scroll through the files for a second and the program just closes with no error message. I’m using Windows 10 and have tried running Anki in compatibility mode for Windows 8, but the same thing happens. I do not have any add-ons nor night mode enabled. I have tried opening while pressing Shift, I have tried restarting my computer, I have checked that I am using the latest version (Version 2.1.33 (3f403040), and I have checked and rebuilt my database. Still, I cannot add sounds or new decks because anytime File Explorer is opened, Anki crashes. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/2 "2020-09-07T12:52:42Z")
This seems strange. Try turning off hardware acceleration from the preferences screen. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/2X/3/3a8a74b6ccaa7d67603f35cb10255285f04d439c.png) Also see [https://changes.ankiweb.net/#/known-issues?id=hardware-acceleration-and-startup-issues-on-windowslinux](https://changes.ankiweb.net/#/known-issues?id=hardware-acceleration-and-startup-issues-on-windowslinux) Or try the alternate version from the download site here: [https://apps.ankiweb.net/#download](https://apps.ankiweb.net/#download) ---
**Author:** ![what53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@what53](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/what53)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/3 "2020-09-07T14:27:40Z")
Thank you! I tried turning off hardware acceleration but after I did that, I could not re-open Anki and got [this error](https://imgur.com/AxoWNmq). So I tried uninstalling and re-installing the alternate version as you suggested and it seems to work perfectly now. ---
**Author:** ![abdo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/abdo/32/654_2.png) [@abdo](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/abdo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/4 "2020-09-07T15:31:59Z")
This may help with running the standard version (From the support page I linked above): > On Windows if you’re unable to get to Anki’s preferences screen and restarting Anki a few times does not help, you may need to manually adjust the graphics driver. You can do this by starting cmd.exe and typing the following: > > ```auto > echo auto > %APPDATA%\Anki2\gldriver > > ``` > > There are three settings you can try: ‘auto’, ‘angle’, and ‘software’. If you have problems both when hardware acceleration is turned on and turned off in the preferences, it’s worth giving ‘angle’ a go. ---
**Author:** ![dae](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/dae/32/65_2.png) [@dae](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/dae)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/5 "2020-09-09T01:25:55Z")
One other thing you could try: [Anki Desktop Crashes When I Try to Export a Deck](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-desktop-crashes-when-i-try-to-export-a-deck/3078/3) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/1X/8f1279ababc5879d54e4838989f606cfe55af8c7.jpeg) [@system](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-crashes-whenever-i-open-file-explorer/3131/6 "2023-05-01T05:32:10Z")