Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 File Explorer Will Always Run in the Background for Faster Loading

Microsoft has acknowledged that the File Explorer in Windows 11 often exhibits slow loading times. To address this issue, a fix will be implemented in an upcoming Windows 11 update. However, rather than rewriting sections of File Explorer or targeting the core problem directly, Microsoft plans to employ a strategy that involves preloading the application during system boot.

For those familiar with Windows, it raises an interesting question: how will this change function? While it may seem that File Explorer is always active—given its dependency on the explorer.exe process for essential system features such as the taskbar, desktop, and notification center—this is misleading. Although explorer.exe initiates on startup, File Explorer itself does not run in the background by default.

Upon booting Windows 11, the shell is activated, linking to explorer.exe, which enables the UI functions I mentioned. However, this does not imply that the specific File Explorer application is concurrently active.

New Background Functionality for File Explorer

Microsoft aims to ensure that File Explorer remains operational in the background. The company is now implementing a preload feature that involves loading File Explorer even when it is not actively open. This change is designed to facilitate instantaneous access when users decide to launch it, thereby improving application performance. Nevertheless, one might wonder: could this lead to overall system sluggishness?

While we cannot yet ascertain the long-term implications, preliminary observations indicate that a negligible increase in RAM usage isn’t likely to hinder performance. In our own experiments, activating the preload feature resulted in notably faster launch times for File Explorer without significantly affecting RAM consumption. However, it is important to note that this adjustment does not enhance folder navigation speeds.

Is Disabling Preloading an Option?

Preloading File Explorer may offer advantages, but should you experience any performance drawbacks after the update, disabling this feature is straightforward. Simply navigate to Folder options > View, and toggle off “Enable window preloading for faster launch times.”

Microsoft has indicated that this preload feature will be enabled by default in Windows 11, as they continue testing it in preview builds. The full rollout is anticipated for early 2026.

Additionally, as part of ongoing enhancements, Microsoft is trialing a compact context menu for WinUI 3 applications, including File Explorer. For instance, a new ‘Manage file’ option has been introduced, which consolidates features such as ‘Compress to ZIP file’ and ‘Copy as Path.’

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