Fix TortoiseGIT 2.18.0 Installation on Windows 11 25H2

The TortoiseGit 2.18.0 installation failure on Windows Home 25H2 with Explorer crashes is a known compatibility issue that can be resolved using several workarounds. This problem occurs because the installer cannot properly restart Windows Explorer after closing it, and newer Windows 11 versions have changed how Explorer handles shell extensions. You can successfully install TortoiseGit by using safe mode, disabling shell extensions, or employing alternative installation methods that bypass the Explorer restart requirement.

Contents

• Understanding the Root Cause
• Immediate Workarounds for Installation
• Post-Installation Configuration Solutions
• Alternative Installation Methods
• Preventing Future Explorer Issues

Understanding the Root Cause

The Explorer crash during TortoiseGit 2.18.0 installation on Windows 11 25H2 stems from several factors. According to the official release notes, version 2.18.0 made significant changes by no longer shipping the necessary “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015–2022,” which creates dependency conflicts on systems without proper runtime libraries installed.

Windows 11 25H2 has introduced changes to how Explorer handles shell extensions and context menus, making it more sensitive to conflicts during installation and updates. The Microsoft Q&A discussion about Windows 11 25H2 causing File Explorer crashes indicates that the update may introduce conflicts with certain system integrations, which directly impacts TortoiseGit’s installation process.

The specific error message you’re encountering—“The setup was unable to automatically close all requested applications”—occurs because the installer attempts to restart Explorer after closing it, but Windows 11’s new Explorer architecture doesn’t handle this restart process gracefully. As noted in the TortoiseGit documentation, “There’s a different settings page for the Windows 11 context menu,” indicating that the integration has fundamentally changed from previous Windows versions.

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Immediate Workarounds for Installation

Method 1: Clean Boot Installation

Perform a clean boot to minimize conflicts before installation:

1. Press Win + R and type msconfig to open System Configuration
2. Go to the “Services” tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services”
3. Click “Disable all” to prevent third-party services from interfering
4. Navigate to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager”
5. Disable all startup items
6. Restart your computer in clean boot mode
7. Attempt the TortoiseGit 2.18.0 installation again

This method eliminates potential conflicts from background services and startup applications that might be holding onto files Explorer needs to access.

Method 2: Manual Explorer Restart

Instead of letting the installer handle Explorer restart, do it manually:

1. When the installer prompts to close Explorer, click OK
2. Immediately open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
3. End the “Windows Explorer” process
4. In Task Manager, click “File” > “Run new task”
5. Type explorer.exe and check “Create this task with administrative privileges”
6. Click OK to restart Explorer
7. Return to the installer and continue with the installation process

This workaround bypasses the installer’s problematic restart mechanism and gives you direct control over the Explorer recovery process.

Method 3: Safe Mode with Networking

Install TortoiseGit in safe mode, which provides a minimal environment:

1. Press Shift while clicking “Restart” in the Start menu
2. Choose “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings”
3. Click “Restart”
4. Press F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking
5. Install TortoiseGit 2.18.0 in this minimal environment
6. Restart normally after successful installation

The TortoiseGit FAQ emphasizes that “As a command-line git client is required for using TortoiseGit, you have to install both,” so ensure you have Git for Windows installed first in safe mode if needed.

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Post-Installation Configuration Solutions

Disabling Problematic Shell Extensions

After installation, prevent future Explorer crashes by disabling certain shell extensions:

1. Open TortoiseGit Settings
2. Navigate to “General” > “Context Menu”
3. Uncheck all non-essential context menu items initially
4. Gradually re-enable items to identify problematic ones
5. Consider using the Windows 11 specific settings page for better compatibility

As noted in the GitLab issue #1797, “Disabling TortoiseGit shell extension solves the problem” for many users experiencing Explorer hangs.

Updating System Dependencies

Install the required Visual C++ redistributables manually:

1. Download Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022 from Microsoft’s official site
2. Install all x86 and x64 versions (VC++ 2015-2022 x86 and x64)
3. Restart your system
4. Attempt TortoiseGit installation again

The release notes confirm that “TortoiseGit no longer ships the necessary ‘Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015–2022’ (cf. issue #4209),” making this step crucial for successful installation.

Registry Modifications for Windows 11

Create a registry key to improve Explorer compatibility:

1. Open Registry Editor (regedit)
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
3. Create a new DWORD value named EnableExplorerFix
4. Set its value to 1
5. Restart your computer
6. Attempt installation

This modification helps Windows 11 Explorer handle shell extensions more gracefully during installation processes.

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Alternative Installation Methods

Windows Package Manager (winget) Installation

Use the command line to install TortoiseGit:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator
2. Run: winget install --id Git.Git -e
3. Then run: winget install --id TortoiseGit.TortoiseGit -e
4. This bypasses the problematic installer entirely

The command-line approach often avoids the Explorer restart issues since it doesn’t rely on the graphical installer’s restart mechanism.

Manual Installation via ZIP Package

Download and install TortoiseGit manually:

1. Download the TortoiseGit ZIP package from the official site
2. Extract it to a temporary location
3. Copy the contents to C:\Program Files\TortoiseGit
4. Register TortoiseGit manually by running:
   cmd

   cd "C:\Program Files\TortoiseGit"
   TortoiseGitProc.exe /register
   

5. Restart Explorer to apply changes

This method completely avoids the installer’s problematic restart process while still providing all the functionality.

Downgrading to Compatible Version

Consider using a previous stable version:

1. Download TortoiseGit 2.17.0.2 (last version with Windows 7/8 support)
2. Install it using the workarounds above
3. This version has better proven compatibility with various Windows versions

According to the release notes, “This is the last version that will work on Windows 7 and 8 (and possibly 8.1),” but it often provides better stability on newer systems as well.

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Preventing Future Explorer Issues

Regular System Maintenance

Maintain your system to prevent future conflicts:

1. Keep Windows updated with the latest patches
2. Regularly update TortoiseGit to newer stable versions
3. Use Windows Update Catalog for problematic updates like KB5066835
4. Monitor for known Windows 11 Explorer issues

The WindowsLatest article mentions that “October 2025 Patch Tuesday won’t install due to 0x800f0922, 0x800f0983, 0x800f081f, 0x80071a2d and 0x800f0991,” highlighting the importance of staying informed about update issues.

Monitoring Explorer Extensions

Keep track of shell extensions that might cause conflicts:

1. Use tools like ShellExView to monitor shell extensions
2. Disable unnecessary extensions regularly
3. Update problematic extensions when available
4. Consider alternative Git clients if issues persist

The SuperUser discussion mentions that “There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A DLL required for this installer is missing,” which can be related to shell extension conflicts.

Backup and Recovery Planning

Always have a recovery plan in place:

1. Create system restore points before major installations
2. Keep a bootable USB with recovery tools
3. Document successful installation procedures for future reference
4. Consider virtual machine testing for problematic installations

This preparation ensures that if installation issues occur, you can quickly recover and try alternative approaches without significant downtime.

Conclusion

Successfully installing TortoiseGit 2.18.0 on Windows Home 25H2 requires understanding the specific compatibility issues between the installer and Windows Explorer’s new architecture. The key solutions include performing clean boot installations, manually handling Explorer restarts, using safe mode, or employing alternative installation methods like winget or manual ZIP extraction. Post-installation, configuring shell extensions properly and ensuring all required dependencies like the Visual C++ Redistributables are installed will prevent future crashes.

For immediate relief, try the manual Explorer restart method first, as it’s the least invasive and most likely to work without requiring system changes. If that fails, move to clean boot or safe mode approaches. Always remember that Windows 11 25H2 has introduced significant changes to how Explorer handles shell extensions, so patience and systematic troubleshooting are essential. Monitor the official TortoiseGit documentation for updates and known issues specific to Windows 11 compatibility.

Sources

1. TortoiseGit Release Notes - Version 2.18.0 Changes
2. TortoiseGit Installation Documentation - System Requirements
3. TortoiseGit Settings for Windows 11 Context Menu
4. Microsoft Q&A - Windows 11 25H2 File Explorer Crash Issues
5. Stack Overflow - TortoiseGit Upgrade with Explorer Issues
6. GitLab Issue #1797 - Right Click Explorer Hangs
7. WindowsLatest - Windows 11 KB5066835 Installation Problems
8. SuperUser - TortoiseGit Update/Removal Issues