Microsoft Confirms File Explorer Search is Getting Faster

Microsoft continues its efforts to enhance Windows Search performance, with File Explorer’s search being the next area of improvement. Marcus Ash, who leads Design and Research for Windows and Devices at Microsoft, confirmed this via a response on X (formerly Twitter). He revealed that the improvements will start with searches conducted across This PC.

Notably, a Windows 11 update released in March (KB5079473) already introduced some enhancements to File Explorer’s search capabilities, particularly for This PC. Microsoft stated, “This update improves File Explorer search reliability when searching across multiple drives or ‘This PC.’”

However, despite these claims, many users, including myself, haven’t observed significant improvements. Fortunately, this new update promises real speed enhancements, as it incorporates the file search advancements from Windows Search that were tested a month ago.

File Explorer Search to Benefit from Windows Search Performance Boosts

On July 13, Marcus Ash highlighted improvements to the Windows Search Box being rolled out to Insiders, describing search as “one of those places in Windows where small amounts of friction add up quickly.”

In response to a query about whether these updates would extend to File Explorer’s search, Ash confirmed: “The improvements we are making to performance and relevance for file searching are coming next to File Explorer. Starting with dramatic speed improvements when searching across This PC.”

This announcement establishes two key points:

• File Explorer’s search will receive the same speed and relevance enhancements as Windows Search.
• The improvements will initially focus on searches conducted within This PC.

Testing File Explorer’s "This PC" Search Against Windows Search

In a controlled test, I searched for the same file in both Windows Search and File Explorer’s This PC. Windows Search located the file in approximately one second. In contrast, searching for the same file in This PC took over eight minutes, even though the file had been recently accessed. The disparity in performance was stark, especially considering the test PC had fewer than ten downloaded files.

Due to the sluggish performance of This PC search, I typically rely on searching within specific folders or using Windows Search, which has recently become much faster and more reliable.

Windows Search: A Model of Recent Improvements

The improvements to File Explorer’s search follow months of updates to Windows Search. Microsoft officially announced these enhancements on July 13, coinciding with Ash’s post. Some of the key changes include:

• Removal of MSN content, daily quizzes, and trending searches, replaced by recent activity results.
• Introduction of a new toggle under Settings > Privacy & security > Search to disable Bing and Microsoft Store suggestions.
• Improved handling of typos (e.g., typing “utlook” now surfaces the Outlook app instead of a Bing search).
• Enhanced file search capabilities, including searching using just two characters (previously three) and substring matching (e.g., typing “menu” or “may” to locate a file named “StartMenuComparisonMay”).

These updates, which arrived with the June 2026 update for standard PCs, are not yet part of File Explorer’s search functionality. However, Marcus Ash’s confirmation indicates that similar improvements will soon be implemented for File Explorer.

Other File Explorer Performance Enhancements

Microsoft is addressing more than just search performance in File Explorer. In May, the company acknowledged File Explorer’s sluggish performance, noting that preloading alone would not resolve the issue. In June, Microsoft began rolling out performance improvements via update KB5095093, which targeted:

• The Home tab.
• A more reliable address bar.
• Fixes for freezing when mounting disk images.

Additionally, File Explorer will soon feature visual improvements, such as:

• A Refresh button in the right-click menu.
• File sizes displayed in easily understandable units (e.g., MB and GB instead of KB).
• A redesigned Properties dialog with support for dark mode, built with WinUI 3.
• Fixes for inconsistent scrolling and issues with folder view settings resetting.

Microsoft has also acknowledged that File Explorer has been slower than its Windows 10 counterpart for years. This is largely due to its hybrid architecture, which integrates the old Win32 foundation with a WinUI overlay. A gradual transition to a full WinUI foundation is expected to yield broader improvements.

When Can We Expect File Explorer Search Improvements?

While Ash did not provide a specific release date, the new Windows Search improvements are currently limited to the Experimental Insider channel and are rolling out gradually. Given the close alignment between these projects, File Explorer’s search enhancements could appear in Insider builds sooner than anticipated.

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