Partition Recovery™
An expert tool for recovering lost partitions
An expert tool for recovering lost partitions
Last updated: Aug 26, 2021

Here is how to fix File explorer is running slow issue

In this article you will find out:

  • how to deal with this issue
  • how to protect your data

Are you ready? Let's read!

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1. Turn off the assistant

Many users claim that Cortana slows down File Explorer significantly. Therefore, you should at least temporarily turn off Cortana And check this assumption. Press Windows Key + R and type regedit. In Registry Editor, in the left pane, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsSearchkey

Create a key if it is not available.

  • To do this, simply right-click the Windows key and select the New option.
  • Next, click on "Key" and enter Windows Search as the name of the new key.
  • Next, right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New.
  • Now click on DWORD Value (32-bit),enter AllowCortana as the name of the new DWORD, then double-click AllowCortana DWORD.
  • Next, set the Value data parameter to 0 and click OK.
  • After restarting your computer, Cortana will be disabled and File Explorer will run faster.

2. Clean Quick Access

Check your quick access list.

The shortcut list makes it quicker to navigate to the folders you want. However, this function also affects the operation of Explorer. Most often, the problem appears when accessing network folders. In this case, you need to remove the network folder from the quick access list and the problem will be solved.

  • Open Explorer.
  • On the left pane, find the problem folder in the shortcut menu and right-click on it.
  • Next, select "Unpin. You may need to remove all items from the quick access list to fix this issue with File Explorer."

3. Optimize folders

The Optimized system folders are in the background and this can slow down the explorer. In this case, try changing the optimization of this folder by following these steps:

  • Right-click the problem folder and choose Properties from the menu.
  • Next, go to the "Customize" tab and set the Optimize this folder option to Common Items.
  • Then activate the function Also apply this template to all subfolders and save the changes.

4. Restart process

To temporarily solve your problem, you can simply restart Explorer:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and in the Task Manager window find and right-click Windows Explorer. Now select the "Restart" option.

Alternatively, you can install a dedicated third-party file manager. These programs are essential for running fast on slow PCs.

Users also report that File Explorer is slow when you launch it by clicking its icon. Therefore, and use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + E -then Explorer will start, and it will work without slowdowns and problems.

5. Change Explorer preferences

If all else fails, you can fix the problem simply by resetting the default explorer view. To do this, press Windows Key + S and enter Explorer options in the search bar. Select the result Explorer Options and click the View tab. Then click the "Reset folders'' button and save the changes.

In addition, File Explorer may be slower if it opens the shortcut folder by default. Then you need to change certain settings:

In Explorer, in the left pane, right-click on the Quick Access option and select Options. Click tab the General and change Open File Explorer to This PC.

Save your changes. You can also turn off the "Always search for file by name and content" option, this also helps.

On the Desktop, right-click an empty space and select “New” from the menu. Then click "Shortcut" and in the new window in the Enter the location of the item enter C: Windowsexplorer.exe, click apply and OK to save the changes. Now use the new shortcut to launch File Explorer.

6. Change indexing options

Try to restore the index:

  • Press Same time Windows Key + S at the and enter indexing parameters in the search bar. In the new window Indexing Options, click on "Advanced'' and then on the "Restore" button.
  • If that doesn't work, try changing other indexing options.
  • For example, if you have added large folders with a large number of files to the index, you can simply delete them.
  • Open the Indexing Options window, select the required indexed folder and click the Edit button.
  • Uncheck the problem folder and save the changes.

Alternatively, you can disable indexing for your disks:

Click the This PC shortcut and right-click the drive for which you want to disable indexing. Select the Properties option and go to the General tab. Now uncheck Allow files on this drive to index content, in addition, to file properties, and save your changes.

7. SFC

If some Windows system components are damaged, the conductor may falter. Check it out and fix it at the same time with an SFC scan. Press the Windows Key + X and the menu, select Command Prompt (Admin).

After that enter sfc / scannow and press Enter.

If this scan fails, then you can use DISM to troubleshoot SFC issues.

At the command prompt as administrator, type:

  • DISM / Online / Cleanup-Image / CheckHealth, press Enter.
  • DISM / Online / Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth, press Enter.
  • DISM / Online / Cleanup-Image / RestoreHealth, press Enter.

Restart your computer and run the SFC scan again.

8. Delete problematic files

If you have a corrupted file in a folder, delete these files. Just open the folder, right-click the corrupted file and click Delete. You should notice that Explorer is faster.

9. Examine the connection

Disable some parameters in the local network settings and most likely the problem will be solved. In the search bar, enter Internet options and choose Internet Options from the menu. In the new window, go to the Connections tab and click on the LAN settings option. You need to deactivate the option to Automatically detect parameters and save changes.

10. Reconnect the hard drive

If your computer is connected to external storage, it can slow down the conductor. In this case, try disconnecting and reconnecting the external hard drive. If this workaround helped you, you will have to always turn off the external drive when you go to work with File Explorer.

11. Use a new account

Perhaps your account is damaged for some reason, in this case, create a new user account.

  • In the Settings app, go to Accounts and select the Family & other people tab.
  • Next, click "Other people" and then click the "Add someone to this computer" button.
  • Select the "I do not have login information for this person" line and click Add user without a Microsoft account.
  • Enter your details and click Next to complete the process of creating a new account.

If all is well, just move all the files and use the new account as your primary account.

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