Forum Discussion
Windows 11 file explorer hangs, open
You can try resetting File Explorer (explorer.exe) process:
- Press Windows Key + R and type SYSDM.CPL in Run. Click OK or press Enter key.
- In System Properties window, switch to Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.
- Next, in Performance Options, under Processor scheduling, make sure that Adjust for best performance of: is set to Programs.
- Then in the same window, under Virtual memory, click Settings button.
- On Virtual Memory page, make sure Automatically manage paging file sizes for all drives option is checked. Click OK, then Apply, OK on rest of windows.
- Reboot the machine and see if issue is resolved now.
Let us know if this helps!
I checked and my system those properties are already set to those values. I don't believe I have ever changed them. I have done extensive testing since this thread's last post. As I've said here the 'Explorer hang' is affected by the Windows Search service.
What I have found is happening on a system where Explorer hangs is that open window hangs for about 30 seconds. The Windows Search service is enabled, but not running. When you attempt to Start, it fails immediately with the failure: Error 5: Access is denied.
When that service is disabled, Explorer does not hang when navigating folders and files.
I have experimented with Virtual Machines and here is what I find:
If a Windows 10 install that has been running for a long time, say a year and half, and that system is upgraded to Windows 11, the potential for Windows Search to fail is present. If a system has a clean install of Windows 10, and that system is upgraded to Windows 11, the Windows Search failure is not present.
Please check out this thread in the Windows 11 Forum that I created:
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/window-search-service-fails-to-start-with-error-5-access-denied.44241/#post-706463
