Best Ways to Fix File Explorer is Slow in Windows 11

Is the new Windows 11 making your PC slow? Several users have reported that the file explorer has become significantly slow after the update. It has been observed with almost every other release of Windows, some PCs become slow, while others become smooth. Just to clear things up, if the file explorer is slow in your Windows 11 PC, it doesn’t need to be due to the Windows update. There can be some issues at your end too.

In this blog, let us address a few factors that might be causing the file explorer to slow down on Windows 11. The issue is common and is certainly fixable, so do not worry and ensure that you read this blog till the end.

What Causes Windows 11 File Explorer to Slow Down? 3 Fixes You Must Try

Windows 11 is the latest edition of the operating system by Microsoft. It comes bundled with some of the finest devices and thus the potential that it holds is impeccable. Still, since it is an upgrade on traditional Windows, the bugs are there.

The finished product is by far the most optimized operating system. However, it can certainly be made more efficient if the bugs like file explorer not responding, and file explorer slowing down can be eradicated.

Unfortunately, these issues lie in the fundamental development of the operating system, and thus they should be dealt with carefully. Good for you, we have curated a list of 3 ways you can get over the file explorer slow issue in Windows 11. Let’s go through them one by one, shall we?

1. Start By Clearing File Explorer History

For every application you run on your PC, some data is saved to ensure that the next time you run the program, the system is aware of what you do. The information stored is a log of how you have used the program in the past. It is known as File Explorer history.

You may be familiar with the term cache in web browsers, the file explorer also similarly accumulates cache. Clearing it can help you speed the file explorer to a certain extent. The way it works is quite easy and you too can clear the app history on your own.

All you have to do is –

Open Windows Explorer from the Taskbar.
On the top side of your screen, you will find a three-dot button. Click on it to expand the menu.

In the menu, choose Options. This will open a window of Folder options.

From the above-shown dialogue box, click on Clear in parallel to Clear File Explorer history.
After clicking on Clear, click on Apply to save the settings and close the explorer to relaunch.

This will remove unnecessary information that your explorer holds and might add to the speed of your File Explorer. If this works for you, make sure you repeat the process every 10-15 days as it is not a permanent fix.

2. Try Restarting Your Windows Explorer

If you are stuck with file explorer not responding or the file explorer is painfully slow, restarting the entire Windows explorer might fix things up for you. Windows Explorer is the name of the process that combines all your basic interface components such as your Desktop, taskbar, start menu, and of course, file explorer.

Restarting Windows Explorer is often used as an alternative to rebooting your computer. Here’s how to restart the explorer –

Press Win+ X or right-click on the Windows button on your Taskbar to open the start menu options.

In the start menu options, click on Task Manager.
In the running Processes, you will find an app named Windows Explorer
Select the Process by clicking on it and then click on the Restart button on the top right side.

This will take a few moments to restart your file explorer.
Your taskbar, as well as your desktop are also a part of the same process so they will also restart. Do not panic if these components go blank for a second.

By restarting your explorer, you not only kill all the unnecessary opened folders but also rejuvenates the entire RAM processing for the application. If the issue was temporary, this will surely help you out!

3. Using Advanced System Optimizer to Enhance PC Speed

File Explorer is not always responsible for slowing down your experience. Sometimes it is also the state in which your PC is being used. Just like any other machine, a PC also requires regular maintenance and optimization.

Using Advanced System Optimizer can help you enhance your PC speed and resolve all the issues your PC might have developed throughout usage. It is easy to use, and the best part is that the process is completely automated.

Here’s how the tool works –

Download and Install Advanced System Optimizer on your computer.

Click on Start Smart PC Care to run a scan. There are multiple types of scans available. Choose a deep scan or a quick scan depending on the time you have or the type of optimization you are looking for. If your PC has ever been scanned before, you should go for a quick scan as it will yield great results in the minimum time.

The scan will start finding errors in your system. The quick scan goes through all the important components that may be responsible for slowing down your File Explorer. The scan is completed in 4 steps, as can be seen in the image.

Once the scan is over, you can find detailed results of the sectors with the most errors. The reporting is detailed to let you know precisely where the issue was. Click on Optimize to start the performance enhancement process now!

As soon as you click on Optimize, you get a warning explicitly saying that your PC will reboot during the process. If you have any important tasks in the process, make sure you either finish them before beginning optimization.

Once you click Yes on the pop-up, the software will start working on the optimization. It might take time, so be prepared for the same. Once the process is finished, you will experience a faster file explorer.

Parting Words

Knowing the core issue causing any error is the key to resolving it. If you know why File Explorer is slow in Windows 11, the issue can be resolved in just a few steps; however, if you are trying to fix an error that you don’t know about, you will always get stuck in the hit-and-trial.

Suppose you are facing an error that you are unaware of. In that case, I recommend you first go for Advanced System Optimizer, which will scan your PC’s disk management, registries, system drivers, and security errors to let you know what is causing your files explorer to slow down.

Once you understand the issue, you can quickly resolve it, right? Try these methods, and do let me know in the comments which one worked the best for you! Till then, this is it for the blog; thanks for reading. Good luck!

Dishank Sharma

A creative tech-writer who loves to explore latest tech-trends & convey them to his readers in the simplest way possible. He loves to blend the crispness of technology with a pinch of creativity while curating best practices for the readers. In his free time, he likes to scribble poetry, listen to rap & travel.