According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, Microsoft is testing a background preloading feature for File Explorer in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB507030). The feature aims to speed up launch times by loading key components in advance. Testing reveals that preloading increases File Explorer’s idle RAM usage from 32.4 MB to 67.4 MB, consuming an extra 35 MB of memory. While the preloaded version does launch faster under both idle and heavy load conditions, the improvement is described as marginal. The feature fails to address persistent performance issues with context menus and overall UI responsiveness. Users can disable the feature through File Explorer’s Folder Options if they prefer not to reserve the additional memory.
The performance trade-offs
Here’s the thing about preloading features – they always come with trade-offs. Microsoft‘s approach basically loads File Explorer components into memory before you actually need them. That should theoretically make the app feel snappier when you click that folder icon. And it does work, sort of. But you’re paying for that slight speed boost with 35MB of constantly reserved RAM. That’s not nothing, especially on systems with limited memory.
What’s really interesting is how this reveals the underlying architecture problems. The tests show that while launching might be slightly faster, everything else – context menus, folder navigation, general responsiveness – remains sluggish. So you get a quicker start but the same old performance issues once you’re actually using it. Kind of like getting to a restaurant faster but still waiting forever for your food.
The architectural bottleneck
The real issue here isn’t whether preloading works – it’s why File Explorer needs preloading to feel fast in the first place. According to the analysis, Windows 11’s File Explorer overlays modern UI frameworks (WinUI/XAML) on top of legacy Windows 10 code. That layering creates rendering overhead that preloading can’t fix.
Think of it like putting a fancy new facade on an old building. The entrance might look more modern, but the plumbing and electrical inside are still decades old. Preloading just means the door is unlocked and slightly ajar – it doesn’t make the building itself any more functional. This is why context menus still lag and navigation feels slow despite Microsoft’s optimization efforts.
Practical implications
So should you enable this feature if you’re testing the Insider build? Well, that depends on your priorities. If you’ve got RAM to spare and every millisecond counts, maybe. But for most users, the trade-off probably isn’t worth it. You’re sacrificing 35MB of memory for a speed improvement that’s barely noticeable in daily use.
The fact that Microsoft is testing this approach tells us they’re aware of File Explorer’s performance problems. But it feels like they’re treating symptoms rather than the underlying disease. As Windows Latest’s testing shows, the fundamental architecture needs attention, not just preloading bandaids.
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