Windows 11 file explorer is slow, lagging, hangs!

Anonymous

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

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Anonymous

I also experienced Lags with the Explorer:

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.
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on a new computer i have again troubles with the explorer, this time i think it is due to a wrong/old account which is no longer active:
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:

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:

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:

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
'Home' as startup-folder seems to also be slow, change it: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-set-start-location-file-explorer-windows-10/

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276 additional answers

Anonymous

2023-02-14T09:09:51+00:00

Confirm having the same problem with very slow File Explorer (caused mainly by Home aka Quick Access)
Had only one link in Quick Access to a network folder that these days is more often unavailable.

Once deleted the Quick Access link, all good !
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Anonymous

2023-02-13T19:47:03+00:00

Thank you so much!!!
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Anonymous

2023-02-12T04:01:17+00:00

So I did everything, I could..

But at least one thing helped, I think 99% is now ok - it is connected with file indexing on drive C and turning off OneDrive option in W11,

there is my tip that worked (onedrive sync windows 11 solved)

https://www.ubackup.com/windows-11/how-to-turn-off-onedrive-sync-windows-11.html

first try disconnect all your network devices (RJ, WiFi), then restart,

then try some ytbe and W11 C drive cleanup, unplug other devices:

"windows 11 annoying freeze"

"How to Fix Freezing Issues on Windows 11 - MakeUseOf"

someones are installing fresh old W10 or fresh W11, so - wish a luck to avoid W11 freezing..
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Anonymous

2023-01-06T23:53:53+00:00

Thank you very much Sam for your response. This is exactly what was happening for me on W11. I had an account which was asking me to re-enter the password, and until I did it, it was slowing a lot in my file explorer

Thanks!
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