Total Commander bugs? Solving errors

Total Commander is legendary for its stability, yet even the most robust file manager encounters issues when interacting with modern operating systems like Windows 11. Most reports of "Total Commander bugs? Solving" actually point to configuration conflicts, missing external libraries, or operating system permission hurdles rather than defects in the software itself. This guide covers the most frequent errors users face in 2025 and 2026, specifically focusing on connection failures, interface lags, and permission blocks.

Common Errors

• OpenSSL Library Not Found: FTP connections fail because secure libraries are missing from the installation directory.
• Context Menu Freeze (Windows 11): Right-clicking files causes a 2-3 second delay or hangs the application completely.
• Plugin Error "File not found": Valid plugins fail to load, often triggering a "Bad Archive" or missing file warning.
• Error Cannot Delete File: The system refuses to delete a file, displaying "Access Denied" or "File in use" messages.
• Slow Dialog Opening: Copy, Move, or Configuration dialogs take several seconds to appear.

Fix 1: OpenSSL Library Not Found

This is the single most common issue when using FTP/SSL. Total Commander does not ship with encryption DLLs due to licensing restrictions, so you must add them manually to secure your connections.

1. Visit the official Total Commander Wiki or a trusted source like the specific OpenSSL binary distributor listed on the Ghisler website.
2. Download the 64-bit DLLs (usually libssl-3-x64.dll and libcrypto-3-x64.dll) if you use the 64-bit version of Total Commander.
3. Extract these DLL files directly into your Total Commander installation folder (typically C:Program Filestotalcmd).
4. Restart Total Commander and retry the FTP connection.

Fix 2: Context Menu Freeze in Windows 11

The new Windows 11 context menu structure often conflicts with legacy shell extensions, causing significant lag when you right-click a file. Total Commander queries the system for these menu items, and if a third-party app hangs, TC hangs with it.

1. Open Total Commander and navigate to Configuration > Options.
2. Select Operation from the left sidebar and find the "Mouse selection mode" area.
3. Uncheck "Use standard selection mode" if enabled, or try the specific internal command: Type cm_SwitchX64Redirection in the command line bar to toggle system redirection if you suspect a path issue (though often less relevant for menus).
4. Primary Fix: Identify the rogue shell extension. Download ShellExView (a free utility).
5. Disable non-Microsoft context menu handlers one by one until the lag disappears.

Fix 3: Plugin Error "File not found"

This error almost always occurs because you are trying to install a 32-bit plugin on a 64-bit version of Total Commander (or vice versa). The error message is misleading; the file exists, but the executable format is wrong.

1. Check your Total Commander version title bar. It will explicitly say "x64" if it is the 64-bit version.
2. Go to the plugin download page (like totalcmd.net) and verify the plugin attributes.
3. Look for plugins labeled "64-bit" or "32+64 bit".
4. If you must use an old 32-bit plugin, you have to install the 32-bit version of Total Commander (you can have both installed side-by-side).
5. Double-click the ZIP file within Total Commander to trigger the correct auto-installation script.

Fix 4: Access Denied / Cannot Delete File

When Windows reports that a file is in use or access is denied, it is often due to a background process or User Account Control (UAC) restrictions preventing the file manager from executing the command.

1. Right-click the Total Commander icon and select Run as administrator to rule out permission issues.
2. If the error persists, the file is locked. Select the file and press Alt + Enter to view properties.
3. If you cannot identify the locking process, use the internal command: type cm_SwitchToAdminMode in the command bar to elevate privileges temporarily without restarting.
4. As a last resort, use a tool like LockHunter or restart Windows into Safe Mode to delete the stubborn file.

Fix 5: Slow Dialog Opening

If pressing F5 (Copy) or F7 (New Folder) results in a noticeable delay, your antivirus is likely scanning the main configuration file (wincmd.ini) every time it is accessed.

1. Open your Antivirus or Windows Defender settings.
2. Navigate to the Exclusions or Exceptions list.
3. Add the path to your wincmd.ini file (usually located in %APPDATA%GHISLER or the program directory).
4. Also add the main executable totalcmd64.exe to the exclusion list to prevent real-time scanning hooks from delaying interface rendering.

Prevention Tips

• Install the Combined Installer: Use the installer that includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions to ensure maximum compatibility with older plugins.
• Backup wincmd.ini: This file holds all your settings. Back it up monthly so you can restore your environment if a corruption occurs.
• Use Internal Viewers: Whenever possible, use internal Lister plugins (F3) rather than launching external heavy applications, which reduces the chance of file locking errors.

When to Contact Support

Most issues are solvable locally, but certain scenarios require developer intervention. You should check the official Ghisler forums if you encounter reproducible crashes that generate a dump file. Before posting, ensure you have your Total Commander version number, Windows OS build version, and a list of active plugins ready. If you suspect a bug in the code itself (rare), try to reproduce it with a "clean" INI file by launching the program with the parameter /i=test.ini to confirm it is not just a corrupt setting.