Microsoft Corporation, the Redmond, Washington based technology giant, is moving to address long standing frustrations with slow File Explorer performance in Windows 11. The company is testing a new preloading feature that quietly keeps the application ready in the background. The idea is pretty simple, and honestly something many users have been hoping for. By doing this, File Explorer should launch almost instantly again, something people often associate with Windows 10’s brisk responsiveness. Alongside that, Microsoft is also working on reducing visual clutter in the context menu, aiming to make everyday navigation feel a bit smoother. It feels like a focused attempt to refine the small but constant interactions that shape how millions of people manage their files each day.
Key Takeaways
• Speed Fix: File Explorer will get a new preloading feature to help it open almost instantly, removing the delays many users currently experience.
• Availability: The feature is being tested in Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, with a wider release planned for early 2026.
• User Control: Users can enable or disable the preloading option in File Explorer’s Folder Options settings.
• Context Menu Declutter: The right click menu is being reorganized to move less used commands into flyout sub menus for a cleaner look.
• Consolidated Actions: Tasks like Compress to ZIP file and Copy as Path are being grouped into a new “Manage file” flyout.
Addressing Performance Complaints
Since Windows 11 launched, quite a few users have noticed that File Explorer sometimes hesitates before it appears, occasionally showing a blank window and the familiar “Working on it…” message. Even if the delay lasts only a second or so, it stands out, especially to people who remember how quickly it opened in older versions. Part of the reason is tied to how Windows handles its system components. While the Windows shell, explorer.exe, runs constantly behind the scenes to support the desktop and taskbar, the File Explorer interface itself doesn’t stay loaded once you close it.
Microsoft’s new approach involves adding an optional preloading feature. When turned on, a minimized instance of File Explorer remains in memory, ready to spring open the moment it’s needed. The company says that early tests show only a minimal impact on RAM, which is reassuring. The goal here feels almost nostalgic, an attempt to restore a sense of immediacy that people expect. This setting appears under the View tab in Folder Options as “Enable window preloading for faster launch times,” giving users the choice to adopt it or leave things as they are.
File Explorer Context Menu Cleanup
In addition to the speed enhancement, Microsoft is also working on refining the context menu in File Explorer. Many people have pointed out that the Windows 11 right click menu feels cluttered, especially when third party apps or cloud services add their own entries. It sometimes becomes a bit of a hunt to find the option you actually need.
The updated design focuses on organizing similar actions into clearer groups. For example, commonly used but secondary items such as Compress to ZIP file, Copy as Path, and even desktop background options are being collected into a new “Manage file” flyout menu. Cloud related items for services like OneDrive will also be grouped inside their own provider based flyouts, which should help keep things easier to scan. Microsoft is even giving some thought to placement. The “Open folder location” option will appear closer to the “Open” action, a small adjustment that might make navigation feel more natural.
Microsoft is encouraging Windows Insider Program users to share their thoughts through the Feedback Hub while these features are still in testing. That feedback will help shape the final version before it reaches everyone in an upcoming Windows 11 feature update, expected sometime in early 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the faster File Explorer be available to everyone?
A: Microsoft is testing the preloading feature now in the Dev and Beta channels of the Windows Insider Program. The company expects the full rollout to happen with a future Windows 11 update, likely in early 2026.
Q: Can I turn off the File Explorer preloading feature?
A: Yes, the feature will be optional. You can disable it by unchecking the box labeled “Enable window preloading for faster launch times” found under the View tab in Folder Options within File Explorer.
Q: What is the Windows shell and why is it important for File Explorer?
A: The Windows shell is the part of the operating system that provides the user interface. The main program for the shell, explorer.exe, manages the desktop, taskbar, and File Explorer windows. While explorer.exe runs constantly, the File Explorer interface was not kept fully loaded, causing the delay that Microsoft is now addressing with preloading.
Q: What specific changes are being made to the context menu?
A: The main change is a reduction in clutter by moving less used or specific commands into new sub-menus, called flyouts. Actions like zipping files or copying the file path will be in a new “Manage file” flyout. Cloud provider actions will also be grouped into separate flyouts.
