Delay when opening a folder

FreeBooter · Oct 31, 2025

See changing icon cache size will help.

This guide will show you how to change the maximum size of the icon cache to fix slow loading icons in File Explorer for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

ToddeSwe · Oct 31, 2025

FreeBooter said:
See changing icon cache size will help.

This guide will show you how to change the maximum size of the icon cache to fix slow loading icons in File Explorer for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

But i don't have any problem in the file browser at all. :)

Spunk · Oct 31, 2025

If there is a hesitation after clicking an icon, then try a Clean Boot.

If this works, You can Keep It This way, or
You can add one or more Services or Startup items at a time until the behavior returns,
Then you will know the culprit.

XxXxX · Nov 1, 2025

it sounds like explorer icon cache problem
this link maybe of help

How to increase Icon Cache size in Windows 11/10

If your Desktop or Explorer icons load slowly when you start the PC, you may want to increase Icon Cache size in Windows, and see if it helps.

www.thewindowsclub.com

a restart after changing the settings will be required.
best of luck Steve ..

Rollback_Jockey · Nov 1, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
It's not a browser problem, it just accours when i am trying to share a photo on a social media platform.

You stated it was "Delay when opening a folder"

FreeBooter · Nov 1, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
But i don't have any problem in the file browser at all. :)

Then if its not File Explorer problem could be your network speed.

2112 · Nov 1, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
I save all my edited photos in one folder...

How many photos, ten, hundred or thousands?

I guess that you have a lot of photos there in the same folder and i see the same if i either open a folder in Explorer or opening the same folder in an app or browser since they use Explorer as well. To fix it when using Explorer is to use another file browser such as Directory Opus. To fix it when you use an app or web browser is to use more than one folder for your photos so there are less files per folder. Not a great solution but afaik there is no other fix for it.

I see it with photos and video files and changed to Directory Opus some years ago, but as i wrote it wont help with apps or web browsers.

Sheikh · Nov 1, 2025

There is an option in properties of that folder named “optimize for” I guess. Set it as general.

ToddeSwe · Nov 1, 2025

2112 said:
How many photos, ten, hundred or thousands?

I guess that you have a lot of photos there in the same folder and i see the same if i either open a folder in Explorer or opening the same folder in an app or browser since they use Explorer as well. To fix it when using Explorer is to use another file browser such as Directory Opus. To fix it when you use an app or web browser is to use more than one folder for your photos so there are less files per folder. Not a great solution but afaik there is no other fix for it.

I see it with photos and video files and changed to Directory Opus some years ago, but as i wrote it wont help with apps or web browsers.

8148 photos :) But that was not a problem with Win 10 at all. I do use Directory Opus. But it's not a problem with the filebrowser at all.

ToddeSwe · Nov 2, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
You stated it was "Delay when opening a folder"

From a browser like edge or chrome sorry for beeing clear.

Edwin · Nov 2, 2025

I'm not certain if Windows saves the thumbnail cache for browser invoked Open... or Save as... dialog boxes.
I have delays from external spinners, external SSD's are a bit quicker, C: Drive SSD is almost immediate.

ToddeSwe · Nov 2, 2025

Edwin said:
I'm not certain if Windows saves the thumbnail cache for browser invoked Open... or Save as... dialog boxes.
I have delays from external spinners, external SSD's are a bit quicker, C: Drive SSD is almost immediate.

I've never had this problem before Win 11.

Edwin · Nov 2, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
I've never had this problem before Win 11.

Been hearing that a lot lately...

ToddeSwe · Nov 2, 2025

Edwin said:
Been hearing that a lot lately...

Win 11 is not as bugfree as Win 10 i think.

XxXxX · Nov 2, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
I've never had this problem before Win 11.

please try.
open explorer and on the bar click the 3 dot . . . menu
then at the bottom options

in options click the second/middle tab view
about halfway down there is
'launch folder windows in a separate process'

make sure that is ticked/marked
then at the top click 'apply to all folders'

see if that gives any improvement
best of luck Steve ..

maur0 · Nov 2, 2025

XxXxX said:
please try.
open explorer and on the bar click the 3 dot . . . menu
then at the bottom options

in options click the second/middle tab view
about halfway down there is
'launch folder windows in a separate process'

make sure that is ticked/marked
then at the top click 'apply to all folders'

see if that gives any improvement
best of luck Steve ..

Another idea is to download Explorer++, it's lightweight and fast.

Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows

explorerplusplus.com

2112 · Nov 2, 2025

ToddeSwe said:
8148 photos :) But that was not a problem with Win 10 at all. I do use Directory Opus. But it's not a problem with the filebrowser at all.

Got it! The number of photos in one folder is a big problem for apps that don´t have a native file browser, iow for apps that rely on Windows Explorer interface to attach/import files. This has been a problem for years with Explorer, that many media files in one folder brings Explorer and apps that rely on the Explorer interface when attaching/importing files into a coma...

I do a lot of video editing and see the same thing there in Adobe apps that relies on the Explorer interface

Since MS has ignored this for years it seems that a fix for this can take long time before it is released, if it ever will be...

It can be worked around if you just drag the file/s from Directory Opus to let´s say Facebook. Then you get the fast speed of Directory Opus and never see the Exporer UI in apps. Lycka till!

ToddeSwe · Nov 4, 2025

2112 said:
Got it! The number of photos in one folder is a big problem for apps that don´t have a native file browser, iow for apps that rely on Windows Explorer interface to attach/import files. This has been a problem for years with Explorer, that many media files in one folder brings Explorer and apps that rely on the Explorer interface when attaching/importing files into a coma...

I do a lot of video editing and see the same thing there in Adobe apps that relies on the Explorer interface

Since MS has ignored this for years it seems that a fix for this can take long time before it is released, if it ever will be...

It can be worked around if you just drag the file/s from Directory Opus to let´s say Facebook. Then you get the fast speed of Directory Opus and never see the Exporer UI in apps. Lycka till!

I managed to solve it as i stated before. :)

Delay when opening a folder

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