General Enable or Disable Preloading File Explorer in Windows 11


File_Explorer_banner.webp

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off File Explorer window preloading for faster launch times for your account in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26220.7271 (Dev and Beta 25H2), Microsoft is exploring preloading File Explorer in the background to help improve File Explorer launch performance. This shouldn’t be visible to you, outside of File Explorer hopefully launching faster when you need to use it.

If you do encounter any issues, please file them in the Feedback Hub under Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer Performance, or Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer.

⚠️ If you don't have preloading File Explorer available yet in the builds above and would like to try it now, then you can enable it using the command below with ViVeTool.

vivetool /enable /id:58778013




Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Preloading File Explorer in Folder Options
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Preloading File Explorer using REG file




Option One

Enable or Disable Preloading File Explorer in Folder Options


1 Open Folder Options.

2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)

3 Check (enable - default) or uncheck (disable) Enable window preloading for faster launch times for what you want.

4 Click/tap on OK.

File_Explorer_window_preloading_Folder-Options.webp





Option Two

Enable or Disable Preloading File Explorer using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 Enable Preloading File Explorer

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_ON_Preloading_FileExplorer_in_background.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShouldPrelaunchFileExplorer"=dword:00000001

3 Disable Preloading File Explorers

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_OFF_Preloading_FileExplorer_in_background.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShouldPrelaunchFileExplorer"=dword:00000000

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

Last edited:
@Brink
It's odd, I have it checked in the GUI but there are no reg entry.

preload.webp


After manually adding the .reg entry, and turn it on/off via the GUI, the reg value changes correctly from 0 to 1.
It looks like the .reg value did not get added somehow, despite being present and on in the interface.
 

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@Brink
It's odd, I have it checked in the GUI but there are no reg entry.

View attachment 153841

After manually adding the .reg entry, and turn it on/off via the GUI, the reg value changes correctly from 0 to 1.
It looks like the .reg value did not get added somehow, despite being present and on in the interface.

Yeah, the reg values don't get added until the first time it's changed in Folder Options.
 

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I must say that I am impressed with the improved load time.
Especially when combined with:


Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Created by: Shawn Brink
; Created on: September 23, 2022
; Updated on: November 5, 2025
; Tutorial: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-delay-of-running-startup-apps-in-windows-11.9144/

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Serialize]
"Startupdelayinmsec"=dword:00000000
"WaitForIdleState"=dword:00000000
 

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    8 GB of DDR4
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    AMD Radeon R5
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Is this one of them selective features because i don't seem to have that option, i imported your reg file and restarted explorer and it's a no show.

25H2 26200.7296
 

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I installed the reg file to enable but the switch still won't show for me to enable it.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2025-11-21 163504.webp
    Screenshot 2025-11-21 163504.webp
    76.2 KB · Views: 36

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I installed the reg file to enable but the switch still won't show for me to enable it.

The REG file will not add the setting. The setting is gradually rolling out still. :(
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Added to the Leader Board.
 

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    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
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    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
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    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
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    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
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    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Internet Speed
    300/300
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    Firefox 3.x ??
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    Symantec (Norton)
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    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
The REG file will not add the setting. The setting is gradually rolling out still. :(
Can vivetool help with this? Is the id known?
 

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    Windows 10
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    Lenovo Yoga 7 Pro
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    32GB
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    Intel Arc

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