How much memory should windows explorer use. However, it can sometimes become a resource-intensive process, consuming a significant amount of CPU power. exe) can sometimes consume an excessive amount of memory on Windows 10, which can be frustrating for users. Your ultimate source for all things tech. Check installed Add-ons. File/Windows Explorer is using 80 mb of RAM on idle when I it is not even open. Jan 7, 2010 · In that machine, Windows Explorer takes a lot of memory, and it's slow refreshing the icons of the files. File Explorer is getting speed and reliability improvements File Explorer, which is a key app in Windows 11, is another major focus of Microsoft’s roadmap. Sep 16, 2025 · In this guide, we’ll help you get to the bottom of why your RAM usage is so high in Windows 11 and walk you through practical steps to fix RAM usage issues and optimize performance. Whether Windows 11 is using too much RAM due to background apps or misconfigured settings, we’ll show you exactly how to take control and free up memory. exe process will use rapidly increasing amounts of RAM. Mar 9, 2026 · How to use the Windows Cleanup recommendations Windows 11 can identify large files, unused apps, and system files that can be safely deleted. For the moment I am just using the ultimate "Total Commander", you can't do no wrong with this amazing application! Jan 4, 2026 · Windows Explorer is an essential component of the Windows operating system, serving as the file manager that allows users to navigate and organize their files and folders. You need to switch to the Details tab, sort by name, and calculate the sum of "Memory (active private working set)" for all Explorer. Apr 20, 2021 · Basically, explorer. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Can I please get some help? Device Specifications: Memory: 12 GB 2400 MHz Storage: 1 TB HDD CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Windows 10 21H1 1 day ago · Davuluri’s latest remarks, addressed to Windows Insiders, read as a course correction. I noticed that the explorer. Fix 1. Graphics cards in these systems are NVidia brand, and are run with the latest drivers. The OS will become lighter with less RAM and system utilization at idle, making it smoother to run on low end hardware with limited memory. If I wait long enough it can sometimes increase up to 18GB (I have 8GB of RAM total but it TechTarget provides purchase intent insight-powered solutions to identify, influence, and engage active buyers in the tech market. Here is what you should do to troubleshoot this issue. My Windows Explorer is always consuming about 150-200 mb of memory, I've heard the normal usage is around 40-60 mb's, also the folder opening speed is wayyy slow. exe uses a massive amount of CPU (~50%) and memory (~up to 3 GB). Run sfc /scannow and at the end, reboot if the system file checker asks for it. When i checked task manager it is showing Windows Explorer is taking al Things like using network storage drives which is something directly built into windows Explorer cause it to act out a lot. exe, to manage it. New Colorado map is a 100% hegihtmap world, around 105 sq km in size, with “walkable” area to be way more larger than whole terrain hegithmap for Colorado V1. exe high CPU and memory usage when copying files I recently upgraded both my PC to Windows 10, and whenever I copy large amount of files (or analyzing large amount of files before copying), with explorer. Feb 8, 2014 · Multipule Explorer. Looking at the embedded Task Manager, my Windows explorer currently use 37Mb of memory. Jun 25, 2023 · What’s the normal memory usage of Windows Explorer? Ideally, File Explorer consumes up to 60-100 MB of Memory with the CPU utilization percentage ranging between 1-5%. When I close the File Explorer, memory remains stable but it does not go back to normal levels. Jul 20, 2023 · Good morning all, I’ve an issue that is happening on few PCs now: Windows Explorer process grows to over 250 MB of memory and locks up the PC until the task/process is restarted or the PC is rebooted. exe processes running at over 100,000k and iexplore. Have you got a folder open that has thousands of video or image files in with File Explorer's view set to thumbnails. However I restart the process from Task Manager and then it dropped to normal. Jan 24, 2022 · Upon bootup, explorer. 14 hours ago · Dive into cutting-edge tech, reviews and the latest trends with the expert team at Gizmodo. 3 days ago · The company’s latest quality push is aimed squarely at memory efficiency, lower baseline resource usage, and better responsiveness across Windows 11, with special attention on everyday experiences like File Explorer, the Start menu, and app launch behavior. Looking at Process Explorer by Sysinternals, it uses 170Mb and I can see all the children process. When I sort by "Commit (KB)" the process which takes up 2,434,148 KBs of memory is "explorer. It comes close to being unusable cuz of too much ram usage if you don't know that this bug exists. Also, only the task manager was open when I took that screenshot. had over 40GB in it's ACTIVE SET and now about once every day or two, it will do the same -- Twice I have been doing text related activities, so I didn't notice it… Feb 2, 2021 · The windows explorer starts using an increasing amount of RAM. When going to resource monitor and to the memory section, you can see that there's 3 instances of explorer. Jan 24, 2018 · Would someone please explain to me why does windows explorer use so much ram? And why is 12gb/16gb cached? Is this normal or is it some memory leak. Aug 28, 2024 · Running on an average of about 200mb - 300mbs depending on usage. exe immediately starts using more and more of the available memory. It is a good idea to monitor the performance of your IE add-ons regularly. exe instance) and if running Steps 1 - 6 don't fix it, it's third-party application related. 3. Can you help me understand why? May 28, 2024 · Windows Explorer high CPU usage is a common issue on Windows 11. exe high CPU usage issue can occur if your Windows 10 PC is infected by malware, which can cause certain processes to be running in the background without your knowledge, and that can cause high CPU usage on your PC. The company is promising more taskbar customization, faster File Explorer behavior, fewer unnecessary Copilot entry points, lower memory footprint, and improved reliability around Bluetooth, sleep, installation, and updates. At times, I've seen it surpassing the 700MB mark. DWM is using 100mb RAM when it should be only using 50mb. exe seems to grow indefinitely and doesn't release all the memory when all the windows are closed. of walkable areas. The only way to bring it back to normal is by restarting windows explorer from task manager or restarting the computer. Jul 12, 2016 · I am using windows 10 and RAM is 4GB. In one particular machine, the process grows to over 2. You don’t require to do anything as it comes back to normal levels in a few seconds. Hopefully the screenshots I've included below can be somewhat helpful. I can write 70,000 images in 10 minutes and consume many GB of file space in an hour or so. Hello everyone, I'm running into an issue with my system. If you’re having this issue on your PC, run a full system anti-virus scan. Is there anything I can do to tune the performance of Windows Explorer? Penzu is a free online diary and personal journal focused on privacy. Introducing Terrain v3 tech and updated Colorado Map. 3 days ago · Faster and more responsive Windows experiences, with early improvements already delivering launch time reductions in apps like File Explorer Improved memory efficiency, lowering the baseline memory footprint for Windows, freeing up more capacity for the apps you run We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Most of the time it's when it's expecting a file/folder and when it can't find it or can't access something it throws a big fit. exe began to consume so much RAM, as far as I remember, when I just installed Windows it consumed much less and even when I used the same programs. exe at over 100,000k. You always know how much space a folder is taking, and can easily identify space hogs. The ultimate guide to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch. Step 2. Learn how to check the amount of disk space available, expand the size of the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD), repair a VHD mounting or read-only error, and locate the . Don't miss our news, reviews, & how-tos, and the latest on MacOS and iOS. Sep 10, 2015 · Windows 10 Explorer. Run a malware scan. The high CPU, Memory, Disk usage problem can also occur due to disk errors or corruption. vhdx file and disk path for Linux distributions installed with WSL 2. After, follow the steps below. Nov 8, 2024 · Why does explorer. exe using a lot of memory. In this case, you can try to fix the issue by initiating a ChkDsk scan. Yet once again “walkable area” was much smaller – closer to real 45-50 or so sq km. exe to report high memory usage? Wouldn’t you expect this memory usage to show up under System or even not a process at all but as the cache portion of the Memory section under the Performance tab? Jun 13, 2021 · I'm experiencing explorer. The number of times we’ve found hefty redundant files sitting around for years is unbelievable. After opening and closing the same folder repeatedly in quick succession, explorer. I'm really looking for help on how to fix this issue because it's making my laptop virtually unusable. exe slowly increases its memory usage, at a rate of roughly 1Mb every 4-5 seconds, as long as the File Explorer is open. Uninstall or disable them. Even with 8 gigs of memory, 80% is used by just chrome (with very few tabs), windows and file explorer which is crazy. This Tutorial Helps to Fix Explorer. so when you ask windows explorer to search for "whiskey", it is not actually running thru the hard disk, but instead goes to that look up table. Dec 19, 2025 · On Windows 11, you can reduce the system memory footprint to improve overall responsiveness, stability, and multitasking performance. Find videos and news articles on the latest stories in the US. Why Browsers Use So Much Memory A modern browser is much more than a window for viewing websites. This detailed article examines the causes, consequences, and solutions for high memory or CPU usage by explorer. Restarting the laptop helps sometimes but doing that all the time is a hassle. This figure increases with more Windows and Tabs opened in File Explorer. I've attached an image of my System Processes. Aug 28, 2024 · When you open multiple folders and files, Windows Explorer needs to maintain a list of recently accessed files and folders, which can increase memory usage. If you Jan 7, 2010 · In that machine, Windows Explorer takes a lot of memory, and it's slow refreshing the icons of the files. When physical RAM limits are reached, Windows relies on this file to manage memory. exe High CPU and RAM Memory Usage In Windows 11/1000:00 Intro00:12 Step 1 - Change System Configuration01:03 Step 2 - Mem Oct 6, 2023 · I'm on an Acer Nitro 5 AN515-44 running Windows 11, the OS is all updated and stuff, the laptop recently went through an OS reset and since then it felt a lot more sluggish for some reason, turns out Windows Explorer keeps taking a lot of my memory out… Dear programmers and just rummaging people, help me understand what the problem is that my explorer. 14 hours ago · Windows 11 is getting a major performance boost in 2026 with lower RAM usage, faster UI, better stability, and File Explorer improvements. In addition, if there are no open files and the File Explorer is getting 200-350mb, it is not normal, in this case, we need to disable unnecessary services running in the background and refresh the Windows Explorer. 4 GB on RAM. Sep 18, 2024 · For Windows 11, 8 GB of RAM is generally considered the minimum for basic tasks, such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. Nov 6, 2023 · So windows explorer was using about 80-85% memory, I had a look around here but I didn't find anything particularly helpful. Dear programmers and just rummaging people, help me understand what the problem is that my explorer. Any Help? here's a photo Windows Version: Windows 10 21H1 Device Specs: HP-15 Laptop (2019) 12 GB Installed memory, Ryzen 3 2200U Processor with 2 cores. exe high resources usage in Windows 11 Jun 6, 2020 · For a while now I have the problem that explorer. Dec 5, 2024 · The reason for Windows Explorer using around 200MB of RAM could be because it is manages various tasks like the desktop, taskbar, Start Menu, and file browsing. I have learned to open the Task manager immediately on bootup, to RESTART or END TASK explorer. It's a gradual increase and does so even if I let my system just sit there after boot up. If there’s insufficient space, overall performance, including Windows Explorer, can contribute to high RAM usage issues. Get the latest news headlines and top stories from NBCNews. Mar 21, 2021 · Amount of memory it uses? Max memory consumption you've seen? There are two different versions of explorer. Using windows search to search for thousands of files can also increase the RAM usage for Windows Explorer in Task Manager. When closing all the explorer windows, the memory usage goes down only by 20-50 MB every time and the overall memory usage keeps growing as a result. exe resets the memory to normal but it starts to grow as soon as I open it again. After starting laptop suddenly RAM usage is building up to 100% and system is freezing. May 21, 2025 · I recently updated to Windows 11 to avoid the notifications for Windows 10 updates, and since then my laptop has been crawling. The System File Checker will on reboot, replace corrupt system files if any are found. The norm is a steady 49mb's when it's acting right. exe process uses about 20-50% cpu all the time. The problem has been there since I purchased the laptop (HP-15 2019 version). exe files. It has also effected navigating the file explorer, deleting, opening and moving in it often results in it becoming non-responsive and when I close the… How To FIX "Explorer exe High Memory & CPU Usage" in Windows 11 Is File Explorer (explorer. Sep 14, 2018 · In the Object Explorer window in SQL Management Studio, refresh the 'Databases Folder', if you see that there is another Database node (in addition to the one which you are trying to rectify this issue) which is shown in 'Recovery Pending State' then proceed to the next step. com. Learn about your Ford vehicle on the Ford Owner Support site. exe — indexing large folders, a corrupted index, or immediate reindex after an update can drive CPU and disk I/O for long periods. I do use a custom theme patcher (SecureUXTheme) aswell as StartIsBack with my Windows but I've never had this issue before with it and the last update for the patch tool was at the end of 2021. Jun 14, 2021 · This should fix the problem of Internet Explorer having high memory usage. Oct 3, 2023 · Hi, I have a laptop with Windows 10 installed. Apr 18, 2022 · Recently on my windows 10 pc the windows explorer app has been taking up to 16% on my CPU. However, if you use memory-intensive applications (like gaming, photo/video editing, or running multiple programs simultaneously), 8 GB may start to feel insufficient. Installed Add-ons are usually the culprit! Check if you have installed any helpers or add-ons to your explorer. It's showing multipule explorer. Easily keep a secret diary or a private journal of notes and ideas securely on the web. Reply reply more replyMore repliesMore repliesMore replies Dom1252 • We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. 5 GB of memory! The machine are not on a domain, are all current with Windows Updates (10 and 11 22H2) and are of varying ages and May 2, 2025 · It is normal when something is running from the Windows Explorer, for example, the file is open. exe sometimes starts using ridiculous amounts of memory. Schedule service & find tires or coupons. To find out if you have Intel Optane Memory Pinning, open the Start menu and search for Add or Remove Programs. It appears that the usage keeps increasing after it's opened, and even after a while, it doesn't decrease. exe high memory, disk or CPU usage problem? The following content will give you clues. Run System File Checker SFC (System File Checker) is a Windows built-in tool used for replacing damaged, lost, or changed system files with good system files. May 25, 2025 · Since creating a new profile resolved the Windows Explorer high CPU usage, the issue likely stems from corrupt user settings, background processes, or cached data in your original profile. Jul 30, 2025 · This guide provides a fresh look at 2025’s memory‑efficient browsers, explains why some browsers consume more RAM, and walks you through the factors to consider when picking a browser for your needs. Fix #2: Use the disk checking tool in Windows File Explorer Step 1. Insert the damaged USB flash drive into your computer's USB port and open Windows File Explorer. 14 hours ago · According to the company, this should help reduce interaction latency and make elements like the Start menu feel faster, though the transition is still ongoing. Oct 29, 2023 · Hello, I'm encountering a persistent problem with Windows Explorer where it exhibits high CPU and memory usage whenever I attempt to open a folder with a size exceeding 30 GB. IF the lookup table is empty, THEN is slowly slugs its way thru all your drives. I am more convinced than ever that Windows Live Mesh 2011 is the culprit here. It takes about 90 seconds for it to get to 100%, at which point my PC locks up. Jan 10, 2025 · Although it is integral to Windows functionality, many users experience high memory or CPU usage caused by this process. Opening the task manager, it doesn't show anything that could add up to 11+ GB being in use. exe in Windows 11 and Windows 10. I will uninstall this program and re-test both systems, then update this question with more information. 80–110 MB is about right. Locate and right-click on the damaged USB drive. I also disabled the majority of useless background processes and telemetry. After wasting some time in the Task Manager I decided I should check Resource Monitor and sure enough ,in there ,in its memory tab ,I found what seems like the culprit but I have been banging my head on this issue for a very long time now. Systems running both Windows 11 and Windows 10 have this problem. Microsoft to fix explorer. How can this memory leak be fixed?. Oct 17, 2022 · Apart from high CPU and Memory usage, high Power Usage is one more problem that users experience sometimes. Here are some insights in May 19, 2021 · In this video I will show you how to Fix: explorer. g. Dec 1, 2024 · How to solve the explorer. exe is the name of the Windows Explorer process, and under an ideal scenario, it shouldn’t consume much CPU, typically in the range of 0-5%. All of a sudden my explorer is using a questionable amount of ram. Sep 29, 2024 · The program will begin scanning the drive for any bad sectors. 26 I like FolderSize, since it's integrated into Explorer and caches the results. I tried clearing my temp files,… Insufficient Virtual Memory Windows uses a paging file as virtual memory. exe use high CPU? Explorer. Dec 1, 2025 · It should not pose a significant issue on most modern machines with at least 16GB of memory, but budget laptops with lower system memory will be affected the most. These improvements will also benefit high-end PCs too. May 2, 2025 · In addition, if there are no open files and the File Explorer is getting 200-350mb, it is not normal, in this case, we need to disable unnecessary services running in the background and refresh the Windows Explorer. RAM usage drops after 30 seconds to 1 minute after closing File Explorer instead of sitting at 700mb. I dont usually run any background stuff except some dell bloatware. Feb 26, 2026 · The AI hardware boom is sending memory prices sky-high, so knowing exactly how much you need is more critical than ever. Jul 21, 2016 · Why would write caching cause explorer. Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated, thank you! Dec 25, 2019 · The trouble is, most people do not have the right hardware for Intel Optane Memory Pinning, so it ends up causing Windows Explorer high CPU issues. : black display flashes and artifacting). Aug 28, 2025 · What causes File Explorer to use high CPU? Several subsystems interact in File Explorer and can each trigger sustained CPU usage: Windows Search / searchindexer. Unfortunately, the entire process of allocating memory is done automatically by the system, and the system does not intentionally limit the maximum amount of memory a program can get. Then select the "Properties" option from the context menu If you look at Task Manager, up to 99% or even 100% of RAM will be in use. exe". exe process, it didn't work I could have tolerated it using so much memory if it had performed smoothly; But it is very, VERY slow at opening folders. exe that run, one is the Windows Shell and the other is Explorer (the Shell always runs and opening Explorer will open a second explorer. Windows Explorer generates thumbnail previews for images and other files, which can consume additional memory. Get owner manuals, warranties & how-to videos. The explorer. 3 days ago · File Explorer and Windows Search will be upgraded with improved performance and capabilities that make finding apps and files much faster and easier. exe High CPU and RAM Memory Usage. 3 days ago · Microsoft unveils MAJOR improvements coming to Windows 11 this year — movable Taskbar, reduced RAM usage, less AI and ads, and much more CONFIRMED: "We are evolving how Windows is built behind Is the memory usage of Windows Explorer within a normal range? Hello, Lately, I've observed that Windows Explorer seems to be consuming a significant amount of RAM. Jun 12, 2025 · Graphics display is also affected before File Explorer shuts down (e. I have tried uninstal For sure there are problems with Windows Explorer performance and stability. Oct 11, 2021 · Windows 11 memory leak problem causes File Explorer to eat much RAM after an update. May 30, 2025 · In this guide, I'll highlight 12 must-have apps every power user should install on a fresh Windows 11 setup. Here are some solutions to help you fix the same. Run CHKDSK. This article aims to explore the reasons behind Windows Explorer using so much CPU and provides effective solutions Introducing Terrain v3 tech and updated Colorado Map. Scan for Large Files on Your Hard Drive Using Windows Explorer, you can scan for files based on size throughout your entire hard drive. Running this tool can fix some system errors. Apr 23, 2025 · Answer: Windows Explorer (explorer. Is there anything I can do to tune the performance of Windows Explorer? Oct 2, 2021 · Why does my Windows Explorer consumes about 160-300 MB even in the background from the point of booting my computer to shutting it down. When your windshield or auto glass breaks, how much does it cost? At Safelite, we work with your insurance company, help you get back on the road safely. Run System File Checker. exe) using too much memory or CPU on your Windows 11 PC? This guide walks you through effective solutions Dec 26, 2024 · You mentioned that you would like to allocate more memory to Windows Explorer. I've worked out the most realistic RAM goals for every type of PC. It's been showing about 91% CPU usage and 97% memory in Task Manager, even when everything is idle and Windows Explorer isn't actually open. exe (Windows Explorer) incrementally increasing its RAM usage upwards of 5GB's and constant cpu usage around 10%. I've seen it go up to 4GB. Apr 4, 2012 · Starting about ~3+ weeks ago, my main desktop explorer process started behaving badly. Rebooting explorer. If it’s higher than that, there’s a problem that needs to be identified and eliminated to get the best performance. Mar 16, 2023 · Under win10 and win11 I've noticed that something in the OS is using large amounts of RAM, even though I've turned off file indexing (Windows Search service) and stopped anti-virus checks of the folders being written to. Sorry I can't just link them, imgur May 28, 2024 · Windows Explorer high CPU usage is a common issue on Windows 11. Oct 7, 2021 · As users have noted, File Explorer’s memory usage goes up each time they open File Explorer. 30–50 MB is too small to be true. By using process explorer I found a thread that seems to be causing the problem 'iaStorAfsServiceApi. Read support articles on SYNC®, FordPass® and more. In this article, we will see how to fix the Windows Explorer High Power Usage issue on Apr 7, 2025 · Struggling with slow performance? Discover why Windows Explorer is using so much memory on your PC and get quick solutions to speed things up. So 70% of my memory is in use pretty much each time I turn on my PC. Sometimes explorer. It's always there, so you don't have to start a separate program. I access it normally with remote desktop. exe each using 2. If you Nov 27, 2021 · Also tried ending and restarting the explorer. dll!OptaneRegisterListener+0x5a88'. erpun kynsep pqjwzap iugm tetl qszw aim rxjek eqynx kgvwhqd