Windows 11 file explorer is slow, lagging, hangs!

Anonymous
2022-11-06T07:07:24+00:00

Hi,

I have a very strong PC with Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe, Intel i7-9700K, 32GB Memory and ASUS ROG Strix Z390-H Gaming.
When my PC was on Windows 10 there was no problem with File Explorer but after upgrading to Windows 11 I am facing a problem with file explorer slow, lagging, hangs even when just renaming a file.
Only full PC restart is solving the problem for a short time.

How to solve this problem on windows 11 please?

Thanks,
AG

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2022-11-28T14:17:19+00:00

I also experienced Lags with the Explorer:

  1. On Windows 10, i could solve them by removing external file-drives (SMB) from Quick-Access. I created a folder with Links to the drives instead and explorer was fast again. Probably the explorer tried to connect to these drives and for some reason failed, even though the connection was up and working.
  2. On Windows 11 on a new computer i have again troubles with the explorer, this time i think it is due to a wrong/old account which is no longer active:
    Image The problems came with the "Home"-Button, which was added at some point. Also the "Please sign in" only shows when selecting the "Home"-Button.

This might also be related to an account i am unable to remove:
Image
Clicking on 'Manage' opens the login-page for the first account and i can not find the old account in the first account to remove it.

Can your problem also be associated with one of the issues above?

Does anyone know how to solve the second issue by e.g. disabling the "Home" button, changing the account in the explorer or removing a no longer existing old account?

Updated Info / what i use:

  1. Don't use mapped Drives oder External Folders in Quick-Access. Keep all pinned-directories pointing to local files / folders. Instead, save them as files / links:

Image

  1. Disable OneDrive.exe in StartUp-Apps. If this still does not help, completely disable or remove onedrive: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/turn-off-disable-or-uninstall-onedrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0 
  2. 'Home' as startup-folder seems to also be slow, change it: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-set-start-location-file-explorer-windows-10/
    Image

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-01T22:10:43+00:00

    After months of dissatisfaction I've just trialled Directory Opus and its lightning fast. If Windows fix the issue I'll consider moving back.

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  2. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-27T04:11:43+00:00

    Of the 3 packages suggested (StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, or WindHawk.), do you or anyone have a positive experience or preference for one of them?

    I have tested all three. IMO, StartAllBack is the easiest one to set up. It also has never given me any trouble. It's $5 (one time purchase) which is an absolute steal. The other two are free, and they are good, but, IMO, require a bit more technical knowledge.

    One important difference. The last time I checked, StartAllBack could let you select between the current Explorer and the Windows 10 Explorer (and can optionally replace the Windows 10 Explorer icons with ones that look like the new Explorer). The other two programs (ExplorerPatcher and WindHawk) will let you select the current Explorer, the previous Explorer (the one that still has drag and drop to the address bar), and the Windows 10 Explorer.

    Since only the Windows 10 Explorer has a functioning "Also apply this template to all subfolders" (that we discussed in another thread), the ability to select the in-between Explorer is probably not important to you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-27T03:43:50+00:00

    For a folder with around 1500 photo and video files, the sort speed on Date Taken using the old explorer (Via control panel) is 1-2 seconds. In the new explorer, it is 4-5 minutes (if it ever finishes).

    It sounds like your best option is to make the Windows 10 Explorer your default file manager. You can do that with StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, or WindHawk.

    Thank you for the suggestions. It is so disappointing that it has come to this with a core MS product that was ruined going from win 10 to 11.

    Of the 3 packages suggested (StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, or WindHawk.), do you or anyone have a positive experience or preference for one of them?

    Thank you!

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  4. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-27T03:15:06+00:00

    For a folder with around 1500 photo and video files, the sort speed on Date Taken using the old explorer (Via control panel) is 1-2 seconds. In the new explorer, it is 4-5 minutes (if it ever finishes).

    It sounds like your best option is to make the Windows 10 Explorer your default file manager. You can do that with StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, or WindHawk.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
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