Windows explorer slow when I select files or folders

Question

Windows explorer slow when I select files or folders

Anton Xose Bermudez Martinez 40

When I select one or more files or folders inside a folder of my desktop the loading icon appears on the mouse and everything open more slow than usual, with "lags"

Pirmin 0 Reputation points

2024-02-07T16:13:50.3266667+00:00

Same here, since this morning - folders can be selected and opened instantly in the navigation area on the left side but when I click and select a file or a folder on the right side, the explorer lags for around 3 seconds alternating between loading icon and mouse arrow twice.
Anton Xose Bermudez Martinez 40 Reputation points

2024-02-07T16:26:33.82+00:00

Please, let me know if you find a solution.
Indy 10 Reputation points

2024-02-07T17:16:19.8533333+00:00

Same for me - since this morning. Spent hours on this, but didnt find a root cause or solution. Installing/deinstalling updates, software, drivers - nothing helped.
The only thing i found was that another (unused) account on the same PC doesnt have this problem.
Ian D 5 Reputation points

2024-02-07T19:35:42.22+00:00

Same here! Suddenly, yesterday, right in the middle of every day using. Out of nowhere. After working, I wanted to shut down the computer and before that, transfering some files to an external SSD. When doing this, creating new folders was suddenly terribly slow. At first I thought, the SSD is causing problems, but when browsing through files on my internal SSD's / HDD's, this behaviour occours, too. Selecting files stutterts and the mouse icon turns into the loading icon. Selecting multiple files is even worse. CPU, RAM, GPU is not overloaded, not peaking ... nothing unusual. Just all of a sudden. System is working normally, checks negative. When looking in Process Explorer, I see COM SURROGATE popping up when selecting files and then going away afterwards. Maybe a buggy Windows Update?
Reza-Ameri 17,041 Reputation points

2024-02-07T22:57:03.9966667+00:00

Since when this problem started?
Does it happen when you connected to internet or network and when you are offline? Did you install any program before the problem started?
Thomas1965 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:27:03.45+00:00

Same here. The problem started on 06. February 2024. I have several Notebooks running under Windows 10, all show the same behavior: Clicking on a directory shows the flashing blue circle. It flashes 3 times, then the directory opens. Access is therefore slow. The problem is always present, independently if the notebook is connected to the internet or any network. The problem is consistent for any directory access: local directories or directories on a USB-connected-SSD-drive.
Alex 0 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:41:55.44+00:00

Same behavior from one of our users. It makes no difference if the folder stored on a net drive or locally. But if log on to the pc with a different user account, the problem disappear...
Andreas Gester 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:57:33.1733333+00:00

Same for me. Are you by any chance Creative Cloud users? For me the problem was solved by removing all Adobe applications - which of course is only a temporary solution. Afaik they disabled their cloud drives two days ago? Maybe the explorer integration of the former cloud drive is causing these problems. EDIT: I just reinstalled Creative Cloud and all applications and everything is working again. So, at least for me, that was the solution
Thomas1965 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T08:40:38.23+00:00

Yes, on the concerned notebooks Adobe creative cloud is installed. I deinstalled it and got normal directory access again. Of course this is not a solution but might point to a root cause. And I also confirm: after reinstalling it, everything is working again as expected. At least for me this was a solution.
Andreas Gester 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T08:55:14.3633333+00:00

On this reddit thread they solved the problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1akdopd/windows_10_file_explorer_bug_loading_cursor/?onetap_auto=true
Murphy 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T10:03:32.85+00:00

#see answer below from Indy for better Solution

Disabling access to this folder using permissions solves the problem:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe OS Extension
Indy 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T13:17:14.96+00:00

You can also simply rename the file AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll (in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe OS Extension) to something like AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll.defect.
Restricting access to this folder could prevent the Adobe installer from installing a possible fix in the future.
hubwood 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T14:46:50.8533333+00:00
Same Problem since yesterday (7th February 24)
Using the Left side of the explorer works fine. Clicking anything on a SSD, Harddisk or server on the main window causes a 3 second lag with 3x flashing of the loading mouse icon.
Let's find out what we have in common:

Windows 10, up to date

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon

64GB G.Skill Aegis 4x16GB

2 Monitors (1080p & 4K)

Running: NZXT Cam (got an update yesterday I think) / Spyder Utility / Ubisoft Connect / TeamViewer / Avira / Dropbox / PenTablet / Toggle Track

Rebooting does NOT help.
Restarting Explorer does NOT help.

2 answers

Your answer

Pirmin 0 Reputation points

2024-02-07T16:13:50.3266667+00:00

Same here, since this morning - folders can be selected and opened instantly in the navigation area on the left side but when I click and select a file or a folder on the right side, the explorer lags for around 3 seconds alternating between loading icon and mouse arrow twice.
Anton Xose Bermudez Martinez 40 Reputation points

2024-02-07T16:26:33.82+00:00

Please, let me know if you find a solution.
Indy 10 Reputation points

2024-02-07T17:16:19.8533333+00:00

Same for me - since this morning. Spent hours on this, but didnt find a root cause or solution. Installing/deinstalling updates, software, drivers - nothing helped.
The only thing i found was that another (unused) account on the same PC doesnt have this problem.
Ian D 5 Reputation points

2024-02-07T19:35:42.22+00:00

Same here! Suddenly, yesterday, right in the middle of every day using. Out of nowhere. After working, I wanted to shut down the computer and before that, transfering some files to an external SSD. When doing this, creating new folders was suddenly terribly slow. At first I thought, the SSD is causing problems, but when browsing through files on my internal SSD's / HDD's, this behaviour occours, too. Selecting files stutterts and the mouse icon turns into the loading icon. Selecting multiple files is even worse. CPU, RAM, GPU is not overloaded, not peaking ... nothing unusual. Just all of a sudden. System is working normally, checks negative. When looking in Process Explorer, I see COM SURROGATE popping up when selecting files and then going away afterwards. Maybe a buggy Windows Update?
Reza-Ameri 17,041 Reputation points

2024-02-07T22:57:03.9966667+00:00

Since when this problem started?
Does it happen when you connected to internet or network and when you are offline? Did you install any program before the problem started?
Thomas1965 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:27:03.45+00:00

Same here. The problem started on 06. February 2024. I have several Notebooks running under Windows 10, all show the same behavior: Clicking on a directory shows the flashing blue circle. It flashes 3 times, then the directory opens. Access is therefore slow. The problem is always present, independently if the notebook is connected to the internet or any network. The problem is consistent for any directory access: local directories or directories on a USB-connected-SSD-drive.
Alex 0 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:41:55.44+00:00

Same behavior from one of our users. It makes no difference if the folder stored on a net drive or locally. But if log on to the pc with a different user account, the problem disappear...
Andreas Gester 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T07:57:33.1733333+00:00

Same for me. Are you by any chance Creative Cloud users? For me the problem was solved by removing all Adobe applications - which of course is only a temporary solution. Afaik they disabled their cloud drives two days ago? Maybe the explorer integration of the former cloud drive is causing these problems. EDIT: I just reinstalled Creative Cloud and all applications and everything is working again. So, at least for me, that was the solution
Thomas1965 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T08:40:38.23+00:00

Yes, on the concerned notebooks Adobe creative cloud is installed. I deinstalled it and got normal directory access again. Of course this is not a solution but might point to a root cause. And I also confirm: after reinstalling it, everything is working again as expected. At least for me this was a solution.
Andreas Gester 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T08:55:14.3633333+00:00

On this reddit thread they solved the problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1akdopd/windows_10_file_explorer_bug_loading_cursor/?onetap_auto=true
Murphy 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T10:03:32.85+00:00

#see answer below from Indy for better Solution

Disabling access to this folder using permissions solves the problem:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe OS Extension
Indy 10 Reputation points

2024-02-08T13:17:14.96+00:00

You can also simply rename the file AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll (in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe OS Extension) to something like AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll.defect.
Restricting access to this folder could prevent the Adobe installer from installing a possible fix in the future.
hubwood 15 Reputation points

2024-02-08T14:46:50.8533333+00:00

Same Problem since yesterday (7th February 24)
Using the Left side of the explorer works fine. Clicking anything on a SSD, Harddisk or server on the main window causes a 3 second lag with 3x flashing of the loading mouse icon.
Let's find out what we have in common:

Windows 10, up to date

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon

64GB G.Skill Aegis 4x16GB

2 Monitors (1080p & 4K)

Running: NZXT Cam (got an update yesterday I think) / Spyder Utility / Ubisoft Connect / TeamViewer / Avira / Dropbox / PenTablet / Toggle Track

Rebooting does NOT help.
Restarting Explorer does NOT help.

Answer 1

hubwood 15

This Works: (posted by Indy)

"You can also simply rename the file AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll (in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe OS Extension) to something like AdobeExplorerExtensionCore.dll.defect.
Restricting access to this folder could prevent the Adobe installer from installing a possible fix in the future."

Instantly got rid of the behaviour! Thanks!

Also a Post about it on Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1akdopd/windows_10_file_explorer_bug_loading_cursor/?onetap_auto=true

Dylan Batten 0 Reputation points

2024-02-14T18:08:13.4966667+00:00

This is the way. Amazing, thank you!
Duncan Robertson 0 Reputation points

2024-02-22T02:10:40.0066667+00:00

Agree. This work-around solved the problem. Thanks to you, hubwood :)

Answer 2

Chris Oliver 0

We started noticing the same thing on several of our Windows 10 systems today. It was never notice before Tuesday that opening a network folder, the blue circle appears for a split second. No new windows updates or software. Nothing appears in the event log. Rebooted several times. Full shut downs. Going to run Windows updates and see if it resolves the issue.

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Windows explorer slow when I select files or folders

2 answers

Your answer