Attempting to mask the sluggish performance of its modern interface, Microsoft is testing a controversial new feature in Windows 11 that keeps File Explorer permanently resident in memory.
Released to Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels on Friday, Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 introduces a “preloading” mechanism designed to eliminate launch delays by shifting the load to system boot, effectively trading RAM for perceived speed.
While the update also brings a robust Point-in-time restore recovery tool and expands the Xbox full screen experience to standard PCs, the decision to brute-force Explorer performance rather than optimize the underlying code has reignited debate over the operating system’s growing technical debt.
The RAM Tax: Preloading File Explorer
Microsoft has implemented a “preloading” strategy for File Explorer in Build 26220, designed to keep the explorer.exe process resident in memory even when no windows are open.
By maintaining the process in a suspended state, the operating system avoids the initialization overhead typically required when a user clicks the folder icon. Microsoft writes:
“We’re 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 have the change, if needed there is an option you can uncheck to disable this called ‘Enable window preloading for faster launch times’ in File Explorer’s Folder Options, under View.”
This architectural shift aims to mitigate the “cold start” latency often associated with the modern XAML-based interface. Users have long criticized the responsiveness of the file manager, particularly after the introduction of tabs and the WinUI 3 framework.
While the company frames this as a performance enhancement, saying that preloading File Explorer in the background helps “improve File Explorer launch performance,” it addresses the symptom rather than the root cause.
Explorer.exe is both the shell and the file explorer app, the entanglement of the shell and file manager remains a core issue.
Users concerned about memory footprint can disable the new preloading feature via a new checkbox in Folder Options > View, though the default behavior is now set to “on.”
While launch times are noticeably snappier with it, the trade-off involves a permanent allocation of system RAM, a decision that may impact devices with 8GB of memory or less.
Microsoft also continues to refine the File Explorer context menu, moving several common commands into a nested “Manage file” flyout to reduce visual clutter. Forcing an additional click for frequent actions like “Compress to ZIP” and “Copy as Path,” the reorganization is likely to frustrate power users accustomed to immediate access.
“We’ve moved Compress to ZIP file, Copy as Path, Set as Desktop Background, and Rotate Right, and Rotate Left into a new Manage file flyout.”
“We’ve moved cloud provider options, like Always Keep on this Device and Free Up Space, into their relevant cloud provider flyout.”
Buried within the new context menu structure are also changes to cloud provider options, which have been consolidated into their own dedicated flyout.
These adjustments follow recent updates where Microsoft restored System Monitor (Sysmon) integration and the new Agenda View to the taskbar, signaling a broader effort to refine the Windows shell.
Other New Features in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271
Another significant addition to the OS is “Point-in-time restore,” a new recovery mechanism leveraging the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to capture snapshots of the system state.
Unlike the legacy System Restore, which focuses primarily on system files, this tool captures a broader scope including applications, settings, and user files.
“We’re excited to introduce point-in-time restore for Windows, now available to Insiders in the Beta and Dev Channels! This flexible recovery feature empowers you to quickly roll your device back to a previous state—helping minimize downtime and simplify troubleshooting when disruptions strike.”
Defaulting to a 72-hour retention period for snapshots, the feature offers a granular recovery window for recent issues.
Microsoft positions the tool as a rapid response mechanism for both minor glitches and major disruptions, stating that “whether you’re dealing with a widespread outage or a one-off issue, point-in-time restore helps recover your system… to get you back to productivity faster.”
Availability extends across editions, with unmanaged devices running Home or Pro receiving the feature automatically. Enterprise environments can manage the rollout via Intune policies, allowing IT administrators to control snapshot frequency and retention to balance storage usage against recovery needs.
UI Friction & Gaming Expansion
On the gaming front, the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) has expanded beyond handhelds to standard PCs and laptops. Offering a controller-first interface, FSE replaces the standard Windows desktop shell when activated, potentially freeing up system resources previously reserved for background tasks to improve gaming performance.
