Windows 11 File Explorer Still Trails Windows 10 in Speed Despite Preloading Improvements
Despite recent optimizations, Windows 11’s File Explorer remains slower than its Windows 10 counterpart, potentially hindering wider adoption of the newer operating system.
Microsoft acknowledged performance concerns with the Windows 11 File explorer and implemented a preloading process designed to accelerate launch times. Initial testing suggests the update does deliver improvements, notably when system resources are heavily utilized. Though, a direct comparison reveals that Windows 10’s File Explorer still boasts superior speed in both opening and closing.
According to testing conducted by Windows Latest, the preloaded File Explorer in Windows 11 consumes approximately 30MB of additional RAM. While this increase is considered negligible, the performance gains are not enough to surpass Windows 10. The tests showed a marginal speed increase when no other applications were running,and a more noticeable enhancement when the system’s RAM was fully occupied.
“The new one wins, in terms of Windows 11’s scope,” Windows Latest reported.However, when pitted against Windows 10’s standard File Explorer – which has not received the preloading update – Windows 10 consistently outperformed the preloaded Windows 11 version.
This performance disparity raises concerns about Microsoft’s efforts to encourage users to upgrade to Windows 11. The company’s ambitious plans to transform windows 11 into an “agentic” operating system have faced skepticism, and reports indicate that a important number of PCs are capable of running Windows 11 but remain on Windows 10.Dell’s COO recently stated that as many as 500 million Windows PCs meet the hardware requirements for windows 11, yet their owners have opted not to upgrade.
A slower, less responsive system compared to its predecessor is unlikely to sway hesitant users. One analyst noted that maintaining a loyal Windows 10 user base coudl easily extend for another year or more if significant performance improvements aren’t realized.
the preloading update represents a step in the right direction, and it demonstrably improves File Explorer’s speed within the Windows 11 ecosystem. Though, Microsoft may need to implement further optimizations to truly win over hardened Windows 10 users and achieve its desired level of adoption for Windows 11.
