Microsoft Tests Windows Explorer Performance Speed Boosts

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Windows Explorer Improvements Roll Out to Windows 11 Insiders

Microsoft has initiated a series of enhancements to its File Explorer, which will be made available to Windows 11 insiders participating in the company’s testing program.

The upgrades aim to boost launch speed and overall performance of the file manager.

New Features and Fixes

The File Explorer preload feature reduces launch times and improves responsiveness by allowing the file manager to preload in the background.

According to Microsoft, this feature was initially tested in November, with participants able to opt-in by disabling the “Enable window preloading for faster launch times” option within File Explorer’s settings.

Additionally, Microsoft has addressed a recurring issue affecting File Explorer users, resolving bright white flashes that appeared when opening the file manager in dark mode.

The company initially attributed the issue to the KB5070311 optional non-security update and claimed to have resolved it in January 2026, although subsequent reports indicated that the problem persisted.

Microsoft has also implemented the Xbox mode on Windows 11 PCs, offering users a dedicated gaming environment that minimizes distractions.

Designed for immersive gameplay experiences, the Xbox mode can be activated through the Xbox application, the Game Bar settings, or by pressing the Windows key combined with the F11 key.

These enhancements are currently being rolled out to Windows 11 insiders participating in the Release Preview channel, who are running version 24H2/25H2 and have installed builds 26100.8313 and 26200.8313, accompanied by the KB5083631 update.