AOMEI Partition Assistant
How to Fix Small Files Slow to Open in File Explorer in Windows 11 and 10?
Why are the small files slow to open? This tutorial will explain it for you and give X ways to fix the issue. You can follow the tutorial to test your disk or extend the drive space.
By Irene / Updated on April 24, 2025
Why are the small files slow to open in File Explorer?
Many users have noticed problems on their Windows PCs after using them for a while. This is normal for a new system that is still being improved. Some common issues include the Start Menu not working, problems with Search, and other small bugs.
One of the most annoying problems is when File Explorer becomes very slow, especially when opening folders with many small files. This can happen even on fast and expensive computers. It wastes time and makes it hard to get things done. Here's a table that focuses more clearly on why small files specifically are slow to open in File Explorer, with simplified and relevant explanations:
| Problem | Why Small Files Cause It | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Too many small files in a folder | Windows checks file details one by one. Lots of small files create extra work. | Organize files into subfolders or combine them into a ZIP archive. |
| Thumbnail previews slow loading | Windows tries to create a preview for each file, which takes time with many files. | Turn off thumbnails by switching to "Details" view in File Explorer. |
| Antivirus scanning slows access | Each small file is scanned, and scanning many files takes time. | Exclude trusted folders from real-time antivirus scanning. |
| Slow hard drive performance | Hard drives take longer to find and open many small files scattered across the disk. | Use a solid-state drive (SSD) for faster file access. |
To make File Explorer faster, you can try a few simple fixes. In the following part, you can get the specific steps.
How to fix File Explorer slow to open files?
There are four effective fixes that can help resolve the issue of small files slow to open in File Explorer. It is a good idea to download a handy tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant, as it offers several solutions. Windows Server users can choose the Server edition.
Fix 1. Run a disk test
If you're unsure why are the small files slow to open on your Windows system, it's a good idea to check the performance of your disk—especially the system drive—by running a disk speed test. AOMEI Partition Assistant provides a helpful feature called “Disk Speed Test” that allows you to easily assess the performance of your SSD or HDD. This tool offers two testing modes:
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Simple Mode gives you a quick overview of your disk’s basic performance.
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Pro Mode provides a more detailed and accurate analysis.
The feature supports all major Windows versions, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. It can also be used to test the speed of external drives, making it a versatile solution for checking overall disk performance.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the disk you want to check and select "Test"> "Disk Speed Test".
Step 2. The Simple Mode is selected by default, which will just report the write-read speed of the selected disk. You can click "Start" to begin testing.
Step 3. Wait a moment, you will see the result shown directly on the console and you can choose to export the result as a screenshot or text.
If you want to do a comprehensive test, please click "Pro Mode". In the new window, you can change the default settings as you like: Random or Sequential, Average or Maximum speed, Test Size, Test Number, and Duration (You can click the drop-down box to see the range of settings). After setting everything, you can click "Start" to begin testing the disk.
Fix 2. Extend the drive space
When your hard drive is nearly full, the File Explorer may slow to open files because there’s less virtual memory, more file fragmentation, and limited space for caching.
To fix this, AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a few handy tools to extend drive space as well. One we recommend trying is "Allocate Free Space". It lets you move unused space from one partition to another—like from a data drive to your system drive—which can help File Explorer open files faster in Windows computers. You can also use features like PC Cleaner to clear junk files or App Mover to transfer apps to another drive and free up space.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click a drive with much free space and click "Allocate Free Space".
Step 2. In the new window, you can specify the space size and target partition. If it’s C drive, you need to select C drive from the given list, and click “OK”.
Step 3. Click “Proceed” and “Apply” to execute.
After that, a part of the free space on the D drive will be added to the C drive.
Fix 3. Restart the File Explorer
You don’t have to close and reopen all your folder windows to restart File Explorer. Instead, your computer allows you to stop the Windows Explorer process and start it again from scratch to fix the issue of files slow to open in File Explorer.
Step 1. Right-click the Start menu icon and choose Task Manager.
Step 2. Right-click Windows Explorer on the Task Manager window and select Restart.
Your File Explorer will automatically reopen. Note that Windows Explorer includes more than just File Explorer. You’ll also see your taskbar and desktop momentarily disappear and then reload.
▶ Tip: Restart your computer may also fix this problem, you can reboot to have a try.
Fix 4. Clean File Explorer cache files
File Explorer can become slow to open small files or unresponsive if it has built up too many cache files. These files may affect its performance over time. A good way to fix this is by clearing File Explorer’s cache, which deletes the stored data and can help restore normal functionality. If you accidentally deleted anything important, AOMEI Partition Assistant also helps easily recover lost data.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Run File Explorer and select the three dots at the top of the window and choose Options.
Step 2. Choose the Clear button next to Clear File Explorer history.
Conclusion
If the small files slow to open in File Explorer, it’s usually due to issues like too many files in one folder, thumbnail previews, antivirus scans, or slow disk performance. Thankfully, you can speed things up with some simple fixes. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant can help a lot—it lets you test disk speed, extend drive space, and clean up your system easily. By using these features along with other tips like clearing the cache or restarting File Explorer, you can improve performance and make your Windows experience smoother.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
