File Explorer gets a speed boost and menu declutter changes on Windows 11

• Windows 11 will now preload File Explorer to launch more quickly on lower-end devices.
• Microsoft also continues trying to make the context menu less cluttered with new action grouping.

On Windows 11, File Explorer is getting some noticeable improvements that will make launching the app faster and help better organize the now-cluttered context menu.

File Explorer preloading

Starting with build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) for version 25H2 in the Dev and Beta Channels, the company is previewing a new behavior in which the operating system will preload File Explorer in the background to improve the experience of launching the application.

Although File Explorer already starts almost instantly on modern hardware, devices with an older hardware configuration may struggle to launch the file manager. However, this change should help speed up the launching experience, especially on less powerful devices, such as tablets and handhelds.

Since the new behavior will keep File Explorer running in the background, it also wastes resources on capable hardware. As a result, Microsoft is adding a new option on the “Folder Options” page to prevent File Explorer from preloading at startup.

If you want to turn off preloading, open File Explorer, and from “Folder Options,” open the “View” tab, clear the “Enable window preloading for faster launch times” option, and click the “OK” button.

The new change is similar to what the company did for the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps by adding the “Startup Boost” option to speed up launching Word, Excel, and the other apps. You can always enable or disable apps at startup from the Settings app to improve the performance of specific apps or the operating system.

Context menu declutter

When the new version of the operating system introduced the new context menu design for File Explorer, the idea was to reorganize and declutter the legacy menu. However, that didn’t happen. On the contrary, the new design quickly became cluttered, and legacy features were missing, forcing users to take extra steps to access older options.

Starting with build 26220.7271, the development team is introducing refinements to reduce clutter. In this update, the context menu now groups common actions in different menus.

For example, you’ll now find “Compress to ZIP file,” “Copy as Path,” “Set as Desktop Background,” “Rotate Right,” and “Rotate Left” under the new “Manage file” submenu.

OneDrive actions, such as “Always Keep on this Device” and “Free Up Space,” are available in their relevant cloud provider flyout. In addition, the “Send to My Phone” next to option is available in cloud provider options.

Finally, the “Open Folder Location” is now available next to Open and Open With.

Although these changes are already rolling out to devices enrolled in the Dev and Beta Channels of the Windows Insider Program, it’s unclear when they will be available to everyone. However, it should happen sometime in early 2026.

What are your thoughts on the changes for File Explorer? Let me know in the comments.