File Explorer not working correctly

Hi, good day!

• When was the last time it worked properly?

Have you made any changes to your computer recently?

Please try the following methods below.

Press Windows key+R to open Run then type:

shell:recent\AutomaticDestinations

press Enter

Delete the contents of the resulting folder

Kindly do the same on the path below

shell:recent\CustomDestinations

After that, restart your computer

Note: This will remove the shortcuts in Quick Access but not the actual files

Clear File Explorer History

Open Control Panel > click View > Small icons > File Explorer Options

Under Privacy, click Clear

This removes cached folder paths that sometimes corrupt.

Please try to run SFC and DISM to check for any system errors and corrupted files.

https://support.microsoft.com/windows/using-system-file-checker-in-windows-365e0031-36b1-6031-f804-8fd86e0ef4ca

After that, restart your computer using Clean boot of Windows 11.

**Perform a Clean Boot

Determine whether a background program or a software conflict is causing the issue.

Press Windows key+R to open Run then type: msconfig

Press Enter

Select System Configuration > go to the Services tab.

(Important) Select and make sure to put a check mark on "Hide all Microsoft services"

Click Disable all.

Go to Startup tab > Open Task Manager > Disable all the unnecessary services running there. Restart your computer.

Please check the support article at the link below for more details.

https://support.microsoft.com/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd#ID0EBBD=Windows_11&id0ebbd=windows_11

I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed by clicking "Add comment" below.

It sounds like you're experiencing performance issues with File Explorer, which can be frustrating. Here are some potential solutions to help resolve the freezing and slow response times:

1. Check for Corrupt Libraries: If you are encountering issues when trying to open libraries in File Explorer, it may help to delete and recreate them. You can do this by selecting Libraries in the left pane of Windows Explorer, right-clicking to delete them, and then restoring the default libraries.
2. Disable Offline Files: If you have Offline Files enabled, it might be causing the freezing issue. You can disable it through the Local Group Policy Editor by navigating to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Offline Files and changing the settings there.
3. Check for Network Drive Issues: If you are accessing files over a network drive, ensure that the connection is stable. Sometimes, mapped drives can cause delays. You might want to consider using a logon script to connect to the appropriate servers without persistent connections.
4. Update Windows: Make sure that your Windows system is up to date, as updates can often resolve bugs and improve performance.
5. Check Background Processes: Sometimes, background applications can slow down File Explorer. Check your Task Manager to see if any processes are consuming excessive resources.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, you may want to consider creating a new user profile to see if the issue is related to your current profile settings.

References:

• Opening a Library in Windows Explorer gives error that it is no longer working
• Applications freeze when they concurrently try to access a file on a network drive in Windows