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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on a new computer i have again troubles with the explorer, this time i think it is due to a wrong/old account which is no longer active: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
    2022-11-15T12:30:33+00:00

    Hi Paul Juke,

    Nothing wrong with my Hardware, I removed Windows 11 and Install my old good Windows 10 and now everything is working with no lags, hangs with file explorer.

    AG

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-12-01T15:15:45+00:00

    Can you tell me how you restored Windows 10? I would like to do the same.

    It's astonishing that Microsoft has pushed out Windows 11. It is disappointing and buggy.

    Windows explorer was reliable in Windows 10 and impossible to use in Windows 11.

    I use the file preview feature and I can't get it to work.

    I am not going to try all these eleborate fixes. Please Microsoft put out a fix that works and just fix it.

    I have to say I am losing faith in Microsoft.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-12-15T22:43:17+00:00

    Windows Explorer was slow to load on a brand new, fast gaming PC. I finally tracked it down to a checked box next to "Show files from Office.com". After unchecking that box, Explorer loads instantaneously.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-11-07T17:58:54+00:00

    Hi Greg,

    Thanks for your detailed answer but non of the solutions worked for me, sorry.

    Kind Regards,

    AG

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