5 Ways to Fix Windows Explorer Loading Slowly

Quick Tips

• Ensure there is enough storage space and memory on your PC.
• Restart the File Explorer process or reset preferences for it.
• Enable folder optimization to let Windows Explorer improve the loading speeds and performance.

Basic Fixes

• Restart PC: Restart your PC to get rid of temporary bugs and glitches
• Close unwanted apps: Close unwanted apps using Task Manager to free up memory, and improve the performance.
• Check storage on PC: If your PC is running low on storage space, it might cause a bottleneck, and a few services might be rendered slow with many performance issues. 

Fix 1: Restart File Explorer

While you restart Windows Explorer, the currently running process is terminated. Once a fresh instance of Windows Explorer is created, it is also less likely to contain bugs and glitches.

Step 1: Open Task Manager from the Start menu. Or hit Ctrl + Alt + Del and select Task Manager.

Step 2: Scroll down to Windows Processes, and you will find the Windows Explorer process. Right-click and select Restart.

Alternatively, you can use the search bar to find the Windows Explorer process. Right-click on the search result and select Restart.

Fix 2: Clear Quick Access (File Explorer Search History)

If there’s a long list of items in the File Explorer history, it may take Windows Explorer additional resources and time to load the same.

Open the File Explorer Options app from the start menu. In the General tab, click on the clear button next to Clear File Explorer History.

Fix 3: Add Folder Optimization Settings

You can optimize a folder based on its contents. This means Windows Explorer can handle the folder in specific ways to improve loading speeds and performance.

Step 1: Right-click on the folder that often loads slowly and select properties. Go to the Customize tab and click on the drop-down menu under Optimize the folder for.

Step 2: Select the relevant option based on the type of content in the folder. Click on OK to save changes and optimize the folder based on its contents.

Fix 4: Troubleshoot Search and Indexing

You can troubleshoot problems with search and indexing that can help improve loading speeds on Windows Explorer. This can eliminate any issue preventing Windows Explorer from efficiently navigating through the vast database of files and folders on your PC.

Step 1: Open the Indexing Options app from the Start menu.

Step 2: Click on Troubleshoot Search and Indexing.

Follow the on-screen instructions to help Windows understand, diagnose, and get rid of the issue you’re facing.

Fix 5: Reset File Explorer to Default

If there’s any misconfiguration affecting File Explorer that is affecting the loading speeds, resetting all settings to defaults will help.

Open the File Explorer Options app from the Start menu > go to General > click on Restore Defaults.