According to Neowin, Microsoft is finally addressing Windows 11’s notoriously slow File Explorer performance in the latest Windows 11 Insider build 26220.7271. The company is implementing a backend change that will preload File Explorer in memory by default to dramatically improve launch speeds. This comes after years of user complaints about the file manager taking over a second to load with a blank “Working on it…” screen. The issue has been consistently present since Windows 11’s 2021 launch despite working flawlessly in Windows 10. Users will have the option to disable this behavior if they’re highly constrained on PC resources, though most will likely welcome the performance boost.
Why this matters
Here’s the thing – File Explorer isn’t some optional app you can avoid. It’s core OS functionality that people use dozens of times daily. When something that basic slows you down, it breaks your workflow completely. And the really frustrating part? This wasn’t broken in Windows 10. So what exactly did Microsoft change between versions that made such a fundamental tool perform worse? We may never get that answer, but at least they’re finally doing something about it.
Bigger picture
This fix comes just weeks after Microsoft’s Windows chief acknowledged there’s “a lot to fix in Windows still.” That’s quite the understatement when you consider they’re simultaneously pushing this whole “agentic OS” future vision. Basically, they’re trying to make Windows smarter with AI while core components like File Explorer are regressing. It’s good to see them addressing basic usability issues, but it raises questions about their testing and quality control processes. When industrial operations rely on Windows for critical systems, performance regressions like this can have real consequences – which is why companies turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs built for reliability.
What’s next
Now the question becomes how quickly this fix will roll out to the general public. Insider builds can take months to reach stable releases, and Microsoft has been notoriously slow with Windows 11 quality-of-life improvements. But given how widespread this complaint has been, they might prioritize it. The real test will be whether this preloading approach actually solves the problem completely or just masks it. Either way, it’s a step in the right direction – even if it’s arriving years later than it should have.
