Microsoft is testing a new preloading feature for File Explorer in its Insider Preview Build 26220.7271, available on the Dev and Beta channels. This addition aims to improve launch speed by preloading File Explorer into memory before users open it.
Performance and Resource Usage
According to tests conducted by Windows Latest using a virtual machine with 4 GB RAM, enabling preloading increases RAM usage from approximately 32.4 MB to 67.4 MB. The responsiveness gains are noticeable only under significant system load, such as when running 16 tabs on Edge (browser). However, the context menu's load time remains largely unchanged, with operations like opening files in Notepad or accessing Ask Copilot still taking time.
Comparison with Windows 10
In contrast, Windows 10 continues to offer a faster and smoother File Explorer experience. Testing shows that File Explorer loads almost instantly on devices with just 2 GB of RAM, highlighting the modest improvement provided by the preloading feature in newer builds.
Despite a minimal real-world performance boost, Windows users encountering slow launch times can partially address these issues by disabling Transparency effects and Animation effects in the Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects menu.
The preloading feature may be included in a regular Windows update in 2026, subject to further developments and optimizations.
