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How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Opening Slowly or Hanging When Accessing Network Folders

Windows KB-985

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Opening Slowly or Hanging When Accessing Network Folders. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

File Explorer may open slowly or hang when accessing network folders due to network connectivity issues, DNS delays, or conflicting shell extensions. This guide walks you through the most effective steps to restore normal browsing performance for network shares and office server folders on Windows 11.

Quick Fix Steps

  1. Restart your computer to clear temporary network glitches.
  2. Confirm your internet and local network connection are stable.
  3. Try accessing the network folder using its IP address instead of the computer name (for example, \\192.168.1.50\Shared).
  4. Open File Explorer and navigate to This PC, then disconnect and reconnect the network drive.

Detailed Instructions

1. Disable Quick Access

Quick Access can cause delays if it attempts to load offline or slow network locations.

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Click the three dots (...) in the command bar, then select Options.
  3. In the General tab, change Open File Explorer to to This PC.
  4. Under Privacy, clear both checkboxes for recently used files and folders.
  5. Click OK and restart File Explorer.

2. Turn Off Remote Differential Compression

This Windows feature can slow down network file enumeration.

  1. Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Click Turn Windows features on or off in the left pane.
  3. Clear the checkbox for Remote Differential Compression API Support.
  4. Click OK, then restart your computer when prompted.

3. Optimise Folder Settings for Network Shares

  1. Open the network folder in File Explorer.
  2. Right-click an empty area and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Customise tab.
  4. Set Optimise this folder for to General items.
  5. Check Also apply this template to all subfolders, then click OK.

4. Disable Auto-Tuning for Network Performance

If network transfers remain sluggish, Windows auto-tuning may be interfering with throughput.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Run the following command:
  3. netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
  4. Restart your computer.

To re-enable auto-tuning later, run netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal in an elevated terminal.

5. Flush DNS and Reset Network Settings

DNS delays can cause File Explorer to hang when resolving computer names on network shares.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Run the following commands one at a time:
  3. ipconfig /flushdns
  4. ipconfig /registerdns
  5. ipconfig /release
  6. ipconfig /renew
  7. netsh winsock reset
  8. Restart your computer.

6. Disable SMB 1.0 Protocol

Outdated SMB 1.0 protocol can cause slow browsing and security issues on Windows 11.

  1. Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Click Turn Windows features on or off in the left pane.
  3. Clear the checkbox for SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.
  4. Click OK, then restart your computer when prompted.

7. Disable IPv6 for Network Adapters

IPv6 can sometimes cause delays when browsing network folders if your network does not fully support it.

  1. Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Right-click your active network adapter and select Properties.
  3. Clear the checkbox for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
  4. Click OK and restart your computer.

8. Clear File Explorer History and Cache

Corrupted File Explorer history can slow down network folder access.

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Click the three dots (...) in the command bar, then select Options.
  3. In the General tab, under Privacy, click Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.
  4. Click OK and restart File Explorer.

Troubleshooting

Check Network Connectivity

Slow network folder access is often a symptom of a broader connection problem. Review our guide on Troubleshooting Network Connectivity in Windows 11 to verify your adapter, DNS, and gateway settings.

Check for Conflicting Shell Extensions

Third-party context menu tools (such as cloud storage or backup integrations) can cause File Explorer to hang when enumerating network directories. If the issue started after installing new software, consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling it.

Keep Windows Updated

Microsoft regularly releases fixes for File Explorer and SMB networking performance. Ensure your system is current by visiting How to update Windows.

When to Open a Ticket

If File Explorer continues to hang after completing these steps, the issue may be related to your server configuration, permissions, or network infrastructure. Open a Ticket with 220 Internet Services support and include the network path you are trying to access.

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Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

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