Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix Windows 11 Slow to Connect to Network Drives and Shared Folders After Sleep. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

How to Fix Windows 11 Slow to Connect to Network Drives and Shared Folders After Sleep

Windows 11 users often experience delays when accessing network drives or shared folders immediately after waking their computer from sleep mode. This happens because the network adapter may enter a low-power state during sleep, and Windows takes time to re-establish the connection to your server or NAS. This guide walks you through the steps to resolve slow network drive reconnection issues on Windows 11.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Wait 30–60 seconds after waking your PC before opening network folders.
2. Open File Explorer and press F5 to refresh the view.
3. Disconnect and reconnect the network drive.

Detailed Instructions

1. Adjust Power Settings for Your Network Adapter

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your active network adapter (usually labeled Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Properties.
4. Go to the Power Management tab.
5. Clear the checkbox Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click OK and restart your computer.

2. Map the Network Drive Using Reconnect at Sign-in

1. Open File Explorer and select This PC from the left pane.
2. Click the See more button (three dots) in the command bar and choose Map network drive.
3. Select a drive letter and enter the folder path (for example: \\ServerName\SharedFolder).
4. Ensure Reconnect at sign-in is checked.
5. Click Finish.

3. Disable Fast Startup

1. Press Windows key + R, type control, and press Enter to open Control Panel.
2. Select Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left.
4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Under Shutdown settings, clear Turn on fast startup (recommended).
6. Click Save changes and restart your PC.

Troubleshooting

Check Your Network Connection

• Ensure your Ethernet cable is securely plugged in, or that you are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
• Confirm that the server or NAS hosting the shared folder is powered on and accessible from other devices.

Flush DNS and Reset Network Stack

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

1. Restart your computer.

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