Many users find File Explorer in Windows slow or not responding. This can really slow down work. It’s essential to know why File Explorer has problems to fix them. Issues often stem from small errors, search and indexing woes, not enough system power, and bad folder settings.
To make browsing faster, we need to tackle these root problems. This guide will give you great tips to improve File Explorer. With these tips, handling files, folders, and network connections will be much easier and faster.
Troubleshoot Search and Indexing Issues
Is your File Explorer search slow? You can fix this by checking Windows’ search and indexing. Many people using Windows 11 and 10 say this makes searching faster and improves File Explorer.
Running the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Windows has a indexing troubleshooter. It finds and solves indexing problems. Find it in your Settings menu:
- Go to Settings and find Update & Security.
- Click on Troubleshoot, then Additional troubleshooters.
- Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. It checks for File Explorer search fix problems slowing your search down.
Using this tool can make your File Explorer search quicker. It checks that indexing works right.
Rebuilding the Search Index
If problems don’t go away, try rebuilding the search index. This updates the list of files Windows can search:
- Open Control Panel. Go to Indexing Options.
- Hit the Advanced button. Under Index Settings, there’s a Rebuild option.
- Choose Rebuild. Wait while Windows updates the index. This can solve indexing troubleshooter issues, making searches faster.
After these steps, File Explorer will search and find files faster. These fixes lead to quicker searches and a smoother File Explorer.
Restarting File Explorer
If your File Explorer is slow on your AMD Ryzen 5 3600, try restarting it. This is a simple fix for minor issues causing it to freeze up. It quickly clears glitches, making everything run smoothly again.
Restarting with Task Manager
Refreshing File Explorer via Task Manager is fast. Here’s how to fix the problem:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- In the Processes tab, find and select Windows Explorer.
- Right-click on Windows Explorer and click Restart.
This restarts File Explorer, which might fix its slowness. It could also make it work better.
Ending Task and Relaunching Manually
Another way to fix File Explorer is to stop it and start it again yourself. Do this if restarting from Task Manager doesn’t work:
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Locate Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
- Right-click and select End Task to terminate the process.
- To reopen File Explorer, press Ctrl + R, type explorer.exe, and hit Enter.
Manually restarting File Explorer forces it to start fresh. This can fix issues, especially if you have a lot of files or connected drives. It helps your system run smoother and more reliably.
Reducing the Number of Active Programs
Having too many programs running at once can slow down your PC and File Explorer. This problem happens when many applications and background processes are active. They are not being managed well.
To make your computer run faster, use the Task Manager. Do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. In the Task Manager, click on the “Processes” tab. You’ll see a list of all the programs and background processes. Close the ones you don’t need to make your PC work better.
Steps to manage running programs:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the “Processes” tab.
- Sort the list by CPU or Memory to find the biggest resource users.
- Pick the programs you don’t need and click “End Task” to close them.
Users with high-tech setups, like HunterAP, really see a difference when they manage programs well. HunterAP owns a powerful PC setup. It includes a water-cooled Ryzen 5950X, a Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master motherboard, and a water-cooled RTX 3090 GPU. Plus, they use 128GB of memory at 4000MHz. This shows how important it is to manage your resources.
Other users, such as Four0Four and TheSkuffedKnerd, talk about how crucial selective startup and turning off non-essential services are. You can improve your PC’s speed by doing these things. Access System Configuration and use Selective Startup. Sort through your services carefully. Cutting down on active programs speeds up your computer. This enhances the performance of File Explorer and your system overall.
Disabling Quick Access
The Quick Access feature in Windows 10 shows your frequent folders and recent files in File Explorer. It’s handy but can slow down File Explorer. Turning off Quick Access can make Explorer faster. Here’s how you can do that:
Clearing File Explorer History
One way to speed up Explorer is by clearing its history. File Explorer collects a lot of data over time. This includes your recent files and often visited folders. This can slow things down. Here’s what to do:
- Open File Explorer Options by right-clicking on the Quick Access icon and selecting “Options”.
- Under the Privacy section, click “Clear” to get rid of the history.
- Confirm to clear File Explorer cache, and this should boost its performance.
Disabling Recently Used Files and Folders
Not showing recent files and folders also speeds up File Explorer. It reduces system load, which is good for performance.
- In File Explorer Options, under the Privacy section, uncheck “Show recently used files in Quick Access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access”.
- Apply these changes and restart your computer to see the speed increase.
By doing these things—turning off Quick Access, clearing File Explorer cache, and hiding recent files and folders—you’ll really speed up Explorer. This makes for a smoother experience.
Why Is File Explorer So Slow?
File Explorer can slow down for a few reasons. These include minor bugs, slow search functions, and too many programs running at once. Also, not setting up folders properly can cause issues. Fixing these problems can make File Explorer work better and faster.
Small Glitches and Bugs in System
Minor bugs can make File Explorer slow. Over time, these can build up and cause delays. Updating your system and troubleshooting can help fix these bugs.
Issues with Search and Indexing
The search bar in File Explorer can be slow. This is due to problems with how it searches and indexes. Using the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter can find and solve these issues. This makes searching faster and File Explorer less slow.
Using many programs at once can make File Explorer slow. It’s important to close programs you’re not using. This can free up memory. Tools like MiniTool System Booster can help manage these issues.
Incorrect Folder Optimization Settings
Setting up folders wrong can also slow down File Explorer. For folders with a lot of content, correct settings are key. This helps File Explorer work more smoothly. Knowing how to adjust these settings can improve how well it works.
Optimizing Folder Settings
To boost your File Explorer, start with Folder Optimization. Making small changes here can help you find files faster. This is super helpful if you have lots of files or folders. Tweaking these settings makes everything run smoother.
Right-click the folder you want to change and pick “Properties.” Go to the “Customize” tab. Choose “General items” under “Optimize this folder for.” This helps your computer handle the folder better. Don’t forget to apply these changes to all subfolders by checking a specific box.
Improving Folder Optimization can fix slow loading times. If you’ve added lots of files recently or after an update, this is especially helpful. It also stops your computer from slowing down due to odd settings.
Picking the “General items” option stops mistakes in how Windows sorts your files. This matters because wrongly sorted files take longer to load. By ensuring folders are optimized correctly for their content, everything works more efficiently.
These tweaks make your computer nicer to use by preventing unnecessary slowdowns. By setting up your folders this way, you’ll see a big boost in how things work day-to-day. It’s a smart move for anyone looking to get more done.
Using System Booster Tools
System booster tools are essential for keeping your PC running well. They clean up clutter, speed up the system, and protect your Internet connection. This helps your computer work more efficiently. There are four main benefits: cleaning out junk files, boosting the Internet connection, freeing memory, and removing malware.
Cleaning Junk Files
Software like MiniTool System Booster and Auslogics BoostSpeed clear out useless files. This stops your PC from getting slow by freeing up space. A clutter-free PC means apps and File Explorer run smoother and faster.
Improving Internet Connection
A good Internet connection is key for seamless online activities. System booster tools tweak your network settings to dodge connection problems. They make sure your browsing and downloading are smooth by improving system speed and Internet security.
Freeing Up Memory
Tools such as Iolo System Mechanic and IObit Advanced SystemCare help manage your computer’s memory. They clear space to make your computer respond faster. With more memory, your system works quicker, especially when you’re using File Explorer.
Removing Harmful Software
Malware and harmful software slow down and harm your computer. Programs like Revo Uninstaller and Auslogics Disk Defrag help get rid of these threats. Keeping your PC clean and secure ensures it runs well and prevents future problems.
Conclusion
Fixing File Explorer’s slowness is key to better file management on a Windows PC. You can often fix slowness by turning off Quick Access or opening a new File Explorer. It helps to know File Explorer’s size is about 2.09 Mb and its path, which is C:WindowsSystemAppsMicrosoft.Windows.FileExplorer.
To make Windows run smoother, try several steps. Restart File Explorer through Task Manager, clear cache, or defrag drives. Issues like error 0x800704ec can freeze File Explorer. Also, background apps like lockapp.exe can slow things down. It’s vital to regularly update and check your system.
Using tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant helps too. They can increase drive space, defrag, and move your OS to an SSD. These actions make your system and File Explorer work better. Keeping your system in top shape ensures smooth and efficient file management.
