How to Fix File Explorer Stuck At Working on It in Windows 11

When you open a folder in Windows 11 and File Explorer gets stuck on “Working on it…”, it usually means Windows is struggling to read the folder’s content. This can happen when File Explorer is fetching thumbnails, loading metadata, or dealing with corrupted files. In some cases, the green loading bar never completes, leaving the folder unusable.

The issue is common with folders containing:

• A large number of photos or videos
• Corrupted files or thumbnails
• Network or external drive content
• Damaged search index data

The good news is that you can fix File Explorer getting stuck with several practical solutions. Let’s walk through them one by one.

1. Restart File Explorer (Quickest Fix)

Sometimes File Explorer hangs due to a temporary glitch.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Scroll and select Windows Explorer.
3. Click Restart at the bottom-right.

This refreshes the Explorer shell without restarting your PC.

2. Change the Folder Optimization Type (Very Effective)

If File Explorer tries to optimize a non-media folder for photos or videos, it gets stuck.

1. Right-click the problematic folder.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Customize tab.
4. In “Optimize this folder for,” choose General items.
5. Check Also apply this template to all subfolders.
6. Click Apply → OK.

This immediately reduces thumbnail and metadata processing.

3. Clear File Explorer History

Explorer stores cache data like search history, thumbnails, and folder metadata that can become corrupted.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to File Explorer Options.
3. Under the General tab, find Clear File Explorer history.
4. Click Clear, then OK.

Now reopen the folder and check if it loads normally.

4. Disable Quick Access Recent Files

Quick Access tries to fetch recent items and can freeze Explorer when something is broken.

1. Open File Explorer Options.
2. In the General tab:
   • Uncheck Show recently used files in Quick Access
   • Uncheck Show frequently used folders in Quick Access
3. Click Apply → OK.

This prevents Explorer from loading problematic recent items.

5. Rebuild the Windows Search Index

If the index is corrupt, Explorer struggles to retrieve folder content.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click Indexing Options.
3. Select Advanced.
4. Under Troubleshooting, click Rebuild.
5. Click OK to confirm.

Index rebuilding takes time but resolves deep search-related issues.

6. Delete the Thumbnail Cache

Broken thumbnail files often cause the endless “Working on it…” loading bar.

1. Open Disk Cleanup (search for it in Start).
2. Select your C: drive.
3. Check Thumbnails.
4. Click OK → Delete Files.
5. Restart your PC.

Windows will regenerate fresh thumbnails.

7. Disable Windows Search Service Temporarily

If the Search service malfunctions, File Explorer has trouble loading content.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
2. Find Windows Search.
3. Right-click → Stop.
4. Open File Explorer and test the folder.

If Explorer loads normally, the indexing service is the root cause.

8. Run System File Checker (Fixes Corrupted System Files)

File Explorer may freeze if system files are damaged.

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run: sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to finish.
4. Restart your PC.

SFC repairs Windows components used by File Explorer.

9. Run DISM to Repair Windows Components

If SFC detects but cannot fix issues, DISM can.

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run the following commands one at a time:
   DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
3. Restart your PC.

DISM restores system images that affect Explorer performance.

10. Check and Fix Drive Errors

If File Explorer hangs only on one drive or external device, file system errors may be the cause.

1. Open This PC.
2. Right-click the affected drive.
3. Select Properties → Tools.
4. Under Error checking, click Check.
5. Click Scan drive.

Windows will repair bad sectors and file structure issues.

11. Disable Third-Party Shell Extensions

Extensions added by apps like WinRAR, Dropbox, OneDrive, or antivirus tools can freeze Explorer.

1. Download ShellExView (free by NirSoft).
2. Sort items by Type and disable non-Microsoft Context Menu extensions.
3. Restart File Explorer.

If the issue is gone, re-enable extensions one by one to find the culprit.

12. Reset File Explorer Layout and View Settings

Incorrect view settings can slow down Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer Options.
2. Go to the View tab.
3. Click Reset Folders.
4. Click Restore Defaults.
5. Click Apply → OK.

This restores default folder behavior.

13. Scan for Malware (Malware Can Freeze Explorer)

Some malware hides files or hooks into Explorer’s loading engine.

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Run a Full scan.
4. Consider an Offline scan if issues persist.

Wrapping Up

If File Explorer gets stuck at “Working on it…”, the problem usually stems from folder optimization issues, thumbnail cache corruption, broken indexing, or system file errors. By clearing cache, rebuilding the search index, resetting folder settings, and checking for drive errors, you can restore normal Explorer performance.

Once fixed, folders should open instantly without the green loading bar or freezing.