Microsoft has begun preloading File Explorer on Windows 11 as part of its effort to improve launch times. This update appears in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) within both the Dev and Beta channels. The approach seeks to offer a quicker startup experience for users.
Performance and Memory Use
Testing reveals preloading marginally reduces launch latency, though the File Explorer now uses nearly twice the memory, increasing from approximately 35 MB to 67.4 MB. This increase is attributable to background processes necessary for preloading.
The change offers users only a slight perceived benefit, noticeable mainly in slowed-down video comparisons rather than everyday use. Core responsiveness issues still dominate, with actions like loading context menus remaining sluggish.
Underlying Issues and Visual Tweaks
While the preloading may seem to accelerate launch speed, it does not address deeper performance regressions attributed to Windows 11's use of modern WinUI/XAML over the older Win32 UI.
Some suggest that disabling transparency and animation effects might create a perception of speed, but these are merely cosmetic changes that do not solve the inherent inefficiencies introduced by additional UI layers.
