Fix TortoiseGit Installation on Windows 25H2: Complete Guide

TortoiseGit 2.18.0 installation on Windows Home 25H2 can fail when the installer cannot properly close and restart Windows Explorer, leaving your desktop unresponsive. This is a known issue that typically occurs because the installer’s shell extension integration conflicts with Explorer’s file locking mechanisms. The good news is there are several effective solutions to resolve this problem, ranging from manual Explorer management to using alternative installation methods.

Contents

• Understanding the Issue
• Immediate Solutions
• Prevention Methods
• Alternative Installation Approaches
• Troubleshooting Steps

Understanding the Issue

The Windows Explorer conflict during TortoiseGit installation is a well-documented problem that affects multiple versions of the software on Windows 10 and 11 systems. According to TortoiseGit’s FAQ, this issue occurs because TortoiseGit integrates deeply into the Windows shell, requiring Explorer to be temporarily closed and restarted to complete the installation properly.

Several GitLab issues have been reported about this exact problem:

• Issue #2557: “TortoiseGit Update closes windows explorer but does not reopen it”
• Issue #1161: “Installer Kills Windows Explorer (i.e. the windows desktop) and does not restart it”

The root cause appears to be that Windows Explorer maintains file handles on shell extension DLLs that TortoiseGit needs to update. When the installer attempts to close Explorer and restart it, the restart process fails, leaving your system in the state you described where the desktop goes black.

Immediate Solutions

Solution 1: Manual Explorer Restart Using Task Manager

1. Before running the installer, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
2. Navigate to the “Details” tab
3. Find explorer.exe in the list
4. Right-click on it and select “End task”
5. Wait a few seconds, then click “File” > “Run new task”
6. Type explorer.exe and click OK
7. Now run the TortoiseGit installer

This method ensures Explorer is completely stopped before the installer attempts to manage it, often preventing the freeze issue.

Solution 2: Safe Mode Installation

1. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter
2. Go to the “Services” tab
3. Check “Hide all Microsoft services”
4. Click “Disable all”
5. Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager”
6. Disable all startup items
7. Restart your computer
8. Install TortoiseGit while in this clean state

Important: After installation, you’ll need to re-enable your services and startup items using the same process.

Prevention Methods

Proper Installation Sequence

The TortoiseGit documentation recommends installing TortoiseGit first, then installing Git for Windows. This order helps prevent conflicts between the two components.

Close All Applications Before Installation

Before running the installer, close all applications including:

• File Explorer windows
• Git clients
• Any development tools that might integrate with Git
• System tray applications

Use the Hotfix Version

As mentioned in the Stack Overflow discussion, there were issues with hotfix versions in the past that have since been addressed. Consider downloading the latest hotfix version if available.

Alternative Installation Approaches

Command Line Installation

You can try installing TortoiseGit using the command line, which may bypass some of the shell extension conflicts:

msiexec /i TortoiseGit-2.18.0.0-64bit.msi /quiet

After installation completes, you’ll need to manually restart your computer or restart Explorer through Task Manager.

Portable Version Installation

Some users have found success by:

1. Downloading the portable version of TortoiseGit
2. Extracting it to a temporary location
3. Running the installer from within the extracted files
4. Manually registering the shell extensions afterward

Update Windows First

Ensure your Windows 25H2 system is fully updated. As mentioned in the WindowsLatest article, recent Windows updates sometimes fix installer compatibility issues.

Troubleshooting Steps

If Installation Still Fails

1. Clean Boot: Perform a clean boot as described in Solution 2
2. Disable Security Software: Temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall
3. Check for Conflicting Software: Uninstall other Git clients or shell extension managers
4. Repair Installation: If you have a previous version installed, try repairing it first
5. Manual Registry Cleanup: Use regedit to remove any leftover TortoiseGit registry entries (backup first!)

Post-Installation Verification

After successful installation, verify that:

1. Right-click context menus appear in File Explorer
2. TortoiseGit settings are accessible
3. Git operations work correctly
4. No Explorer hangs occur during normal use

If you encounter right-click hangs, try disabling the TortoiseGit shell extension temporarily to isolate the issue.

Conclusion

The TortoiseGit 2.18.0 installation issue on Windows Home 25H2 is frustrating but manageable with the right approach. The key solutions include:

1. Manual Explorer management using Task Manager before installation
2. Safe mode installation to eliminate conflicts
3. Proper installation sequence with TortoiseGit before Git for Windows
4. Alternative installation methods like command line or portable versions

Remember that this is a known issue affecting many Windows users, and the TortoiseGit development team has been working on improvements. If you continue to experience problems, consider checking the official GitLab issues for the latest updates and workarounds submitted by other users.

For best results, always download the latest stable version of TortoiseGit from the official website and ensure your Windows system is fully updated before attempting installation.

Sources

1. TortoiseGit FAQ - Installation and Shell Integration
2. TortoiseGit Documentation - Installation Guide
3. GitLab Issue #2557 - Windows Explorer not reopening
4. GitLab Issue #1161 - Explorer Kill and Restart Problem
5. Stack Overflow - Upgrading TortoiseGit and Explorer Issues
6. GitLab Issue #1797 - Right-click Hangs
7. TortoiseGit Release Notes - Version 2.18.0
8. WindowsLatest - Windows 11 Update Issues