Microsoft tests File Explorer preloading in Windows 11 to mask slow launches
Microsoft has started testing a new File Explorer behavior in Windows 11 that keeps the shell preloaded in the background. The change ships to Windows Insiders in Dev and Beta channels as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) for version 25H2. The company openly admits this is about launch performance and says the preload should not show up as a visible change besides faster window opens.
The new option appears in File Explorer under Folder Options, on the View tab, as a checkbox labeled “Enable window preloading for faster launch times” . When enabled, Windows keeps a warmed up instance of File Explorer ready so opening a new window from a cold start no longer stalls for a second or two.
We’re exploring preloading File Explorer in the background to help improve File Explorer launch performance. This shouldn’t be visible to you, outside of File Explorer hopefully launching faster when you need to use it. If you have the change, if needed there is an option you can uncheck to disable this called “Enable window preloading for faster launch times” in File Explorer’s Folder Options, under View. Looking forward to your feedback! If you do encounter any issues, please file them in the Feedback Hub under Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer Performance, or Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer.
— Microsoft on File Explorer
The feature is optional. Users who do not want Explorer to sit in memory can turn it off by opening File Explorer, going to Folder Options, switching to the View tab, and clearing that preloading checkbox. Microsoft is treating this as an experiment with controlled rollout, so not every Insider will see the toggle right away.
Since the switch to the more recent WinUI-based interface, developers and power users have already criticized this strategy for their slow File Explorer performance. Rather than focus on optimizations, they are trying to apply a bandaid.
One thing I wish they fixed in File Explorer, if you have a slow network location and you accidentally fly a file over it, it will take ages for Explorer to unlock. Even worse if the storage is offline. I can’t believe how much time I have wasted on this bug.
Source: Windows Blog
