Windows Explorer: "The remote procedure call failed" - what to do?
"The remote procedure call failed" - If Explorer stops working and you get this error message, you can try to fix the error or temporarily do without Explorer. We provide useful tips for both solutions.
"The remote procedure call failed" - Fixed the error
If the remote procedure call fails and Explorer cannot be run, the service may not have started. How to start it:
- Open "Run" by pressing [Windows] + [R].
- Enter "services.msc" in the "Open" window.
- Find the entry "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)".
- If the status is not "started", start it: To do this, right-click and select "Start".
- If the service is already started, does not start, or does not help starting, you can usually fix the problem by restarting the computer.
- If you cannot or do not want to restart the PC, try using the following tips temporarily without using Explorer:
Work temporarily without an explorer window - how it works
If opening the Explorer with the key combination [Windows] + [E] or clicking on the workstation leads to the error message "The remote procedure call failed", you can try the following workarounds to get along largely without the usual Explorer windows. A pictorial documentation with further tricks can be found in the following picture gallery.
- The start menu often still works. Find a folder here and open it with a right click and »Open«.
- The toolbar is usually not affected either. If you have folders here, you can open an explorer window with a double click.
- If you have created shortcuts on your desktop, you can use the assigned key combination to open the linked program.
- Programs can often also be opened via the quick start bar.
- If you do not have Windows Explorer in the toolbar or on the desktop as a shortcut or in the quick start or a link to the programs you need, see whether you can call up alternative Explorer such as "WinRAR" or "Total Commander".
The described troubleshooting and the workarounds were tested on a Windows 7 computer. However, this or something similar should also work under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 8. If files are not updated in Explorer or you have problems with Windows updates, further practical tips will help.
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Via [Windows] + [R] you enter the Windows services after entering "services.msc". Here you can check whether the service has started and activate it if necessary.
Otherwise you can try to open an explorer window via the start bar. With a right click on a folder and "Open" it could work.
The toolbar is usually located in the right or left area of the taskbar. If you have folders here, you can open them with a double click. It can also help open programs.
"[[//www.chip.de/downloads/WinRAR-32-Bit_12994655.html|WinRAR]]" and "[[//www.chip.de/downloads/Total-Commander_12992663.html|Total Commander]]" have alternative explorers with similar functionality. If you can open them via the start menu, toolbar or shortcuts, you can use them from now on.
An Explorer in the quick start bar could also bring the solution. However, if you cannot open an explorer this way or simply do not have one, you can help yourself with the following trick (next picture).
Most programs have implemented "Open", "Save" or "Import". When you call this up, a kind of Explorer window opens in which you can navigate, copy, move, rename files and often open programs.
If nothing helps, only one thing helps: restart the computer. If necessary, contact an administrator.
