A new solution for Windows 11 File Explorer lag issues has emerged, drawing on a registry tweak to bypass a legacy feature.
Cause of Performance Issues
File Explorer in Windows 11 can exhibit sluggish performance due to an inherited folder type discovery feature from Windows XP. This feature scans folder contents to optimize their views dynamically, resulting in significant input/output overhead. The unintended consequence is sluggish folder opening and unresponsiveness even on high-performance systems.
Registry Tweak Solution
Users have discovered a workaround that involves editing the registry to assign a generic "NotSpecified" type to all folders. This change effectively disables the scanning feature, resulting in a significant boost in speed for opening folders. The tweak is implemented under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\LocalSettings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags registry path, where users set FolderType to "NotSpecified".
Community and Microsoft Responses
Reports suggest dramatic improvements in speed upon employing the registry tweak, although caution is necessary as registry alterations can destabilize systems. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue to some extent, integrating mitigations in preview builds to enhance indexing and memory usage. However, the registry edit remains a favored immediate solution among users.
It's crucial to back up the registry and create restore points before making such changes. Community support provides detailed guides for a safe application and reversal of these changes.
