🐢 [FIXED] File Explorer Running Slow After Windows 11 24H2 Update? Here’s How to Speed It Up!

Is your File Explorer sluggish after installing the Windows 11 24H2 update?

You’re not alone. Many users have reported that opening folders feels delayed, the Explorer freezes up occasionally , or even crashes after the update. These issues can be frustrating—especially when all you want is to quickly access your files.

In this guide, we’ll break down why it happens, and provide step-by-step fixes to restore your PC’s responsiveness.

🐌 Common Symptoms You May Notice

• Opening folders takes several seconds
• Explorer becomes unresponsive or goes white(“Not Responding”)
• Taskbar and Start menu also feel delayed
• Frequent Explorer crashes after clicking files or folders

These symptoms often occur immediately after a major system update, especially if background tasks like indexing or OneDrive syncing are running. Left unresolved, this can disrupt your daily workflow.

⚠️ Main Causes Behind the Slow File Explorer

Here’s what may be causing the slowdown

These issues are especially common when multiple startup apps and cloud services run in the background right after the update.

✅ Solutions to Fix File Explorer Slowness

Each fix below tackles a specific cause. Try them one by one

🔁 1. Restart File Explorer

The simplest first step: restart the Explorer process to clear temporary glitches.

How to do it

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart

🔍 2. Temporarily Disable Windows Search

Indexing can spike CPU usage after updates.

Steps

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter
2. Locate Windows Search, double-click it
3. Set “Startup type” to Disabled and click Stop

This will stop indexing. You can enable it again after performance stabilizes.

🧹 3. Clean Up Temporary Files

Clear update leftovers that may slow down file browsing.

Steps

1. Press Win + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter
2. Choose drive C
3. Check options like Temporary Files, Thumbnails, etc., and delete them

☁️ 4. Pause OneDrive Sync

Slow cloud sync can delay file display in Explorer.

Steps

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar
2. Go to Settings (gear icon) → Pause Sync → choose 2 hours

Try browsing files again after pausing syncing.

🧩 5. Disable Non-Microsoft Shell Extensions

Old shell extensions often conflict with new Explorer versions.

How to check

1. Download ShellExView by NirSoft
2. Run it as administrator
3. Disable all non-Microsoft extensions one by one to find the culprit

This is advanced but can fix significant Explorer lag.

🧰 6. Run System File Repair Tools

Corrupted system files may worsen performance after major updates.

Use these built-in tools

Run them from a terminal (admin) window.

🚫 7. Reduce Startup Apps

Too many background apps can eat up RAM and CPU.

Steps

1. Open Task Manager → go to the Startup tab
2. Disable apps you don’t need at boot time

🧽 8. Clear File Explorer History

Old history data can clog the file interface.

Steps

1. Open Explorer → click on “…” → Options
2. Under the General tab, click Clear next to “Clear File Explorer history”

📋 Summary Table

This summary gives you a quick overview of each method and its impact. We recommend starting with the simplest actions like restarting Explorer or cleaning temporary files, then progressing to more advanced fixes such as disabling shell extensions or using repair tools. Don’t worry—you don’t need to try everything at once. Just work down the list until you notice a clear improvement in performance.

🧠 Pro Tips & Hidden Fixes

• Leave the PC powered on overnight after an update. Indexing and background optimization will finish while idle.

• Try a different user account if the issue seems isolated. This checks for profile corruption.

• For enthusiasts: Registry tweaks can revert Explorer to classic UI, but this is advanced and risky—back up first!

🔄 Why It May Get Better Over Time

After any major Windows update, the system undergoes optimization in the background. If the slowness is minor, giving it 24–48 hours may help. However, persistent sluggishness warrants action.

❓ FAQ

Q: Is this a known bug in Windows 11 24H2?

A: Microsoft hasn’t acknowledged a specific Explorer bug yet, but many users report similar symptoms after 24H2.

Q: Should I roll back the update?

A: If within 10 days of installing it, you can go to Settings → System → Recovery → Go back. But it’s usually better to fix the cause unless critical.

🏁 Final Thoughts

File Explorer should be quick and reliable—especially after an update. If it’s slowing you down, try the solutions above. Most users find a noticeable improvement after cleaning up files, pausing syncs, or fixing shell conflicts.

Let us know which fix worked for you!

・For more troubleshooting guides,check out:

▶︎Google Drive for Desktop Not Working on Windows – Real Fixes That Work
▶︎Can’t Update Windows? Solve Error Code 0x800705b4 in Minutes
▶︎Is your Windows screen black, flickering, or just not working? Your ultimate guide to fixing it.

タグ: Windows 11, File Explorer slow, Windows performance tips, Explorer lag fix, 24H2 update issues, shell extensions, OneDrive sync problems, SFC DISM repair