File Explorer could be the reason you don't want to upgrade to Windows 11 23H2

In addition to anticipated additions such as Dynamic Lighting, native RAR file support, and Ink enhancements, Windows 11 version 23H2 will come with a redesigned File Explorer with a host of new built-in features. integrations like Gallery, improved tab management, modernized user interface elements, enhanced OneDrive, etc.

The update is now available for testing in the Beta Channel, which means the official rollout has begun. However, there is one big problem that the Windows Insider testing community thinks could become the 'dead end' that makes Windows 11 23H2 a failed update: File Explorer's lousy performance.

To put it mildly, the redesigned File Explorer on the upcoming version of Windows 11. isn't fast. In fact, users may notice severe performance drops even when running the update on a fully supported hardware system.

Tech blogger Gustave Monce was the first to report on the issue. He said he had a lot of trouble using the new File Explorer on Surface Go 2, Microsoft's own Windows 11-compatible tablet. It's hard to believe (and somewhat funny) that the new File Explorer takes up to 15 seconds to load.

Of course, Microsoft could rightly argue that you shouldn't expect much from a tablet with a low-end Intel processor, 4GB of RAM, and sluggish eMMC hardware. But the problem is that the new File Explorer gives a bad experience even when running on a more performant hardware setup.

Blogger Florian (@flobo09 on Twitter), MVP of the Windows Insider program, claims his desktop with Intel Core i5-7600K and 16GB of RAM takes up to 21 seconds to launch the new File Explorer.

File Explorer could be the reason you don't want to upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 Picture 1

Although not too serious, the same situation occurred on HP Pavilion x360 laptops with 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processors and desktops with Ryzen 5 2600 CPUs. Another frustrated user. even says the redesigned File Explorer on Windows 11 23H2 is "unusable" on a system with Ryzen 3400G and 16GB of RAM. Now, it's not hard to find similar feedback on Feedback Hub.

Upgrading File Explorer to WinAppSDK may have allowed Microsoft to implement new features and improve interface consistency, but caused serious performance problems. Hopefully the developers will use the few months remaining before the release of Windows 11 version 23H2 to improve the situation. Otherwise, many people will definitely have to stick with version 22H2 until things get better, or even stay with Windows 10.

Jessica Tanner

Update 08 August 2023