Microsoft is working on some subtle but important changes to Windows 11’s File Explorer that could finally curb its hunger for system memory. These changes are currently being tested in the latest Windows Insider builds and aim to optimize the way the file manager handles searches – particularly against the high RAM and CPU usage that often increases when browsing large folders.
This update appears in Windows 11 Build 26220.7523 and later
Currently it is only available to those participating in the Insider Preview program. The essence of the fix is to work smarter, not harder: Microsoft wants to prevent File Explorer from performing the same indexing tasks over and over again, which has been a major drain on system resources for years.
In a recent update, Microsoft noted that it has refined the search process by “eliminating duplicate file indexing operations.” Essentially, this means that Windows will stop rescanning the same files multiple times during a search. It’s a sensible solution that should make the whole experience feel much faster while putting less strain on your hardware.
It’s worth noting that File Explorer doesn’t have its own search engine; It uses the integrated Windows Search Indexer. Although this indexer is supposed to be intelligent, it often gets caught in a loop of redundant tasks, resulting in unnecessary peak loads on CPU and RAM. By eliminating these “double checks,” Microsoft is reducing the overall system load, which is good news for anyone running Windows on a laptop with limited memory.
In addition to the technical effort, Microsoft is also further tidying up the File Explorer user interface
Specifically the right-click context menu. In recent testing, several options that people don’t use every day — like Copy as Path, Compress To, and the image rotation tools — have been hidden in their own submenu.
Depending on which version of the test you are viewing, this new submenu will be called either “Manage File” or “Other Actions”. The goal is pretty simple: clean up the main menu so the things you actually need aren’t buried under a mountain of special tools you only use once a year.
While these updates are still being fleshed out in Insider channels, they are not far from a general release. Microsoft is expected to begin rolling out these improvements to everyone in late January or February. If all goes according to plan, your next Windows update may make searching for files a lot quieter and your desktop a little less cluttered.
