How to fix “Internet Explorer has stopped working”


Do you get the message “Internet Explorer has stopped working“? There are some things you can try to fix this annoying error.

How to fix Internet Explorer has stopped working

There are 4 methods that you could try to fix the error message “Internet Explorer has stopped working”.

4 Methods to fix “Internet Explorer has stopped working”:

Method 1: Disable Protected Mode

Internet Explorer has stopped working

1. Click on “Tools”, “Internet Options”:

Internet Explorer Internet Options

2. Go to the tab “Security” and untick the option “Enable Protected Mode”:

Internet Explorer Disable Protected Mode

3. Restart the Internet Explorer.

Method 2: Reset Internet Explorer Settings

1. Click on “Tools”, “Internet Options”:

Internet Explorer Internet Options

2. Go to the “Advanced” tab and click on “Reset”. Read the warning message and confirm if you want to proceed:

Reset Internet Explorer Settings

Method 3: Download and Reinstall Internet Explorer 7 or 8 (XP-only)

You could try to reinstall the Internet Explorer.

Download Internet Explorer 8

Method 4: Switch Browser

Try another browser, like Firefox, Opera or Google Chrome.

Other Methods

  • Disable Toolbars
  • Disable Addons
  • Restore system via system restore
  • Reinstall Windows 7

If none of the methods above help you to fix the error and you are still receiving the message “Internet Explorer has stopped working” frequently, you could reinstall your OS as a last resort, create a new user account, disable all add-ons that you currently use, disable all toolbars or try a system restore in Windows 7.

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Written by: Oliver Krautscheid (Nick: oliversk)
Oliver is the founder and lead editor of this site. He is interested in finding new ways to break Windows, find common e.... Full Bio

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20 Responses to How to fix “Internet Explorer has stopped working”

  1. Lucy said:

    Thank you so much, after weeks of paying to find a solution to our internet just randomly stopping working, i spent one minute on your website and the problem was solved.

    Forever grateful!

  2. johntheadams said:

    If you’te using an anti virus/anti spyware program such as AVG, etc., that checks for rogue “drive-by” sites that attempt to dump their crapware into your computer without your knowledge, then you have no need to use IE in the “protected mode.” You’re already protected. It’s like wearing a condum on top of a condum.
    .
    I would not be surprised if the cause of this problem turs out to be traceable to a conflict with such a program.
    .

  3. Tim said:

    Many thanks. Very clear information and effective remidies.

  4. jason said:

    i uninstalled a search toolbar added recently with hugo as the publisher and i stopped getting the message

  5. James said:

    I had doubts initially, but this was VERY helpful. I was almost at the point of deinstalling and reinstalling IE. What worked for me was “unchecking” Enable Protected Mode and “resetting” the IE settings. Both of those fixed this problem…which I believe was started after doing a Microsoft Update.

  6. james said:

    I ran msconfig from Start>Run>msconfig an there I clicked the “Startup” tab and unchecked a whole hoard of extras that were not only causing the reoccuring IE crash (even after upgrading to version 9 beta), but also sped up my PC’s loading at the start.

  7. Don Montabana said:

    Sending from my working laptop.

    My problem is a bit different. Running WIN 7 and IE8 and it has been working fine until this evening.

    The error message I get is different. The dialog box say that IE has stopped working and that it is looking for a solution. Thee follow-up dialog says IE has stopped working and the only option it gives is to close it down. Amy ideas what the issue is?

    If I download a copy on my laptops DVD drive and reinstall on my desktop will I lose my favorites — or do I have to save them off and reinstall? Thanks…

    Don

  8. purplegolfchic said:

    I have the same problem as Don….last night I was working in IE and all of a sudden i got the “Not working” message and IE closed. Every time I try to open IE, even after rebooting I get the same message almost immediately.
    I did a resore and it worked until I fixed Norton Internet Security which gor messed up in the restore. Now i cannot use IE at all…thank goodness I have Firefox installed for a backup.
    this was on laptop running Windows 7 with IE 8.

  9. Wayne Lutynski said:

    I kept getting ‘Internet Explorer has stopped working’, a problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close theh program and notify you if a solution is available. I tried a few of the above stated solutions, however, found them to be too risky. So, I decided to run my Norton Anti Virus scan, and it detected and corrected 11 issues. Upon completion of the entire scan and backup process, I opened explorer, and it opened and worked perfectly as before. Hope this helps individuals with similar problems. I was ready to go to the Geek Squad. Wayne

  10. Linda said:

    I have been having this problem for awhile now and couldn’t figure out how to fix it but now when it pops up saying IE has stopped woking etc. and now When it pops up I just close it out and IE keeps working fine but I have to react fast as it won’t shut down IE when I do that…..hope this helps someone…..

  11. Leonce said:

    Problem solved in less than 5mins
    Thank you

  12. Xl said:

    I fixed this problem in Windows 7 by disabling the Add-on for Yahoo toolbar.
    Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (no Add-ons)> Manage Add-ons.

  13. raychel said:

    OMG!!! thank you soooooooooo much!!! undoing the protected mode is what made the warning stop popping up. apparently i enabled protected mode myself without knowing it was the cause…haha!!! well….thanks anyways!!! im so relieved i dont have to exit out of an internet warning when i close a tab or the internet itelf now:D

  14. denise said:

    Thank you so much!!!!! Microsoft solutions did not make it this simple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  15. eiman said:

    Don’t ever fix StopZilla on your computer its not to protect its to ruin your your computer,this my experience ,once I installed every thing has been stoped working on my laptop and after deleated the thing back normal again,so be careful.

  16. jovin zollo said:

    i can’t open my internet xplorer

  17. Mephisto said:

    Thank you very much, for me the “reset” from “advanced” did the trick!

    I tried restoring my system to an earlier checkpoint. I tried to re-install IE over. I tried to replace riched32.dll with a new one…. nothing worked. The MAGIC “reset” button turned me from depression to happiness! :) thanks a lot!

  18. Brian said:

    None of the suggestions worked for me. However, I was suspicious of AVG on my toolbar and the advice to”Stop keystrokes to Google”.

    I deleted the AVG toolbar and my problem was solved.
    I have the “Paid for” version of AVG but I won’t be renewing it.

    Is AVG trying to get into the Search Engine Market?

  19. Sandy said:

    The resetting IE works, but the problem, it constantly reappears. I unistalled my comcast toolbar, and reset IE, works for awhile and there it is. I hate it because I lose information. I think it is a bug with IE 9.

  20. graham said:

    done one of the above i turned off avg tool bar and it fixed the problem that i have had for 6 months

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