How to Fix Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working on Windows 7

If you’re using Windows 7 and have encountered the frustrating issue of Internet Explorer suddenly stopping or freezing, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective solutions to get your web browsing back on track.

Reset Internet Explorer Settings

One of the first steps you can take is to reset the settings in Internet Explorer. This can help resolve issues caused by corrupted or conflicting settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Internet Explorer and select Tools > Internet options.
2. Select the Advanced tab, and then select Reset.
3. In the Reset Internet Explorer settings dialog box, select Reset.
4. When Internet Explorer finishes applying the default settings, select Close > OK.
5. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

Disable and Enable Internet Explorer

If resetting the settings doesn’t work, you can try disabling and then re-enabling Internet Explorer. This can help resolve issues caused by conflicts with other software or system components. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Windows logo key R to open the Run box.
2. Type inetcpl.cpl and select OK.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
4. Under Reset Internet Explorer settings, select Reset. Then select Reset again.
5. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you also want to remove browsing history, search providers, Accelerators, home pages, Tracking Protection, and ActiveX Filtering data.
6. When Internet Explorer finishes resetting the settings, select Close in the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box.
7. Start Internet Explorer again.

Reinstall Internet Explorer

If the above steps don’t work, you may need to reinstall Internet Explorer. This can help resolve issues caused by corrupted or missing system files. Here’s how to do it:

1. Download the appropriate version of Internet Explorer for your Windows 7 system. You can find the correct version on the Microsoft Learn website.
2. Uninstall any newer versions of Internet Explorer that you may have installed on top of the version that came with your Windows 7 system.
3. Install the version of Internet Explorer that you downloaded in step 1 and restart your system.
4. Run Windows Update to apply any available updates for Internet Explorer.