How do I speed up windows explorer

Question

I am trying to access my files on windows explorer. As explorer is opening I get an incredibly slow scrolling blue bar as the files show up, one by one. This takes so long that most times I need to walk away and then come back in 10 or so minutes, just to see, organize, or attempt to name the files in a folder. It made my computer nearly impossible to use, so I went out and bought a brand new Microsoft Windows Surface Pro computer, and to my dismay, this computer does the exact same thing! Help!!

Answer 1

If you're experiencing slow performance and delays when using Windows Explorer, there are several steps you can take to try and speed it up. Here are some suggestions:

Update Windows: Ensure that your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and updates. Microsoft often releases performance improvements and bug fixes through updates, so keeping your system updated may help resolve the issue.

Check for malware: Run a thorough scan with your antivirus software to check for any malware or potentially unwanted programs that could be affecting your system's performance. Malware can sometimes cause slow file operations.

Disable unnecessary startup programs: Too many programs launching at startup can slow down your system. Open the Task Manager by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager." In the "Startup" tab, disable or remove any unnecessary programs from the startup list.

Optimize your storage: If your hard drive is nearly full, it can impact system performance. Make sure to have sufficient free space on your drive. You can use the Disk Cleanup utility to remove temporary files, unused system files, and other clutter.

Disable unnecessary visual effects: Windows has several visual effects enabled by default, such as animations and shadows, which can impact performance. You can disable these effects to improve system responsiveness. Right-click on the "This PC" (or "My Computer") icon, select "Properties," click on "Advanced system settings," go to the "Advanced" tab, and under "Performance," click on "Settings." Choose the "Adjust for best performance" option or manually disable specific visual effects.

Disable file indexing: Windows Explorer uses an indexing feature to make searches faster. However, it can consume system resources and slow down file operations. If you don't frequently use the search functionality, you can consider disabling indexing for specific drives or file types. Right-click on a drive in File Explorer, select "Properties," and uncheck the "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed" option.

Clear File Explorer history: File Explorer maintains a history of recently accessed files and folders, which can cause some delay in loading. Clearing the File Explorer history might help improve performance. Open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab, and then click on "Options." Under the "General" tab, click on the "Clear" button in the "Privacy" section.

Use alternative file managers: If the above steps don't provide a significant improvement, you might consider using alternative file managers such as Total Commander, Directory Opus, or XYplorer. These file managers often offer faster performance and additional features compared to the default Windows Explorer.

It's worth mentioning that if the issue persists after trying these steps, it may be a hardware limitation or a specific software conflict. In such cases, contacting Microsoft support or seeking assistance from a technical professional might be beneficial.