Microsoft has reaffirmed its commitment to refining Windows 11 by scaling back the integration of Copilot and honing in on essential components. At the forefront of this initiative is File Explorer, which is set to receive a significant update aimed at enhancing its performance and user experience. The company is addressing concerns such as loading speed, the notorious ‘white flashes’ in dark mode, and expanding archive format support.
Recently, Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 26200.8313 to testers within the Release Preview Channel. After a day of testing, it has become evident that File Explorer is indeed showing signs of improvement. Observations from Windows Latest indicate that the application now loads more swiftly and has successfully eliminated the distracting white background flashes when operating in dark mode.
This particular build is currently exclusive to Windows Insiders, but users can anticipate these enhancements becoming available to the broader public with the optional update scheduled for April 2026. For those who prefer not to install monthly optional updates, the improved File Explorer, along with other fixes, will be included in the May 2026 Patch Tuesday update, which is set to roll out on May 12, 2026, at 10 AM PT.
File Explorer feels faster and no longer causes white flash in dark mode
During testing, it was noted that File Explorer exhibits a noticeable increase in speed, particularly upon its initial launch after booting up the desktop. Previously, users with low-end hardware experienced significant delays, with File Explorer taking several seconds to load, often requiring multiple attempts. Fortunately, the latest preview builds indicate that Microsoft has enhanced the application’s speed without relying on preloading techniques that were previously trialed.
In this update, File Explorer not only performs better but also manages Windows 11 themes more effectively. For users like myself who prefer dark mode and have configured File Explorer to open directly to the ‘This PC’ tab, the previous issue of white flashes during folder navigation and tab creation has been resolved. This fix is a welcome relief for those who frequently resize the Details pane, which previously triggered similar visual disruptions.
Additionally, Microsoft is expanding File Explorer’s capabilities by introducing support for new archive formats. Users can now right-click on file types such as xar and nupkg (NuGet packages) to extract their contents. The newly supported formats include cpio, uu, xar, and nupkg, with promises of further enhancements in future updates.
Explorer.exe no longer crashes as frequently as it did in the past
Reliability improvements have also been made to the explorer.exe processes, contributing to a more stable Windows 11 experience. Users will find that closing File Explorer no longer leads to crashes or lagging issues with the taskbar and system tray, which were often attributed to explorer.exe malfunctions. The latest preview update has bolstered the reliability of taskbar interactions and Task View, making actions such as unpinning items from the Quick Access menu more dependable.
In addition to these performance upgrades, Microsoft is introducing several new features to File Explorer:
- The ability to preview internet-downloaded files with a simple click on ‘Preview anyway.’
- A search bar that now aligns with the iconography of the rest of Windows 11.
- Immediate reflection of folder view preferences, such as icon size adjustments, even when accessing the same folder from other applications like Microsoft Edge.
These developments are part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance Windows as a robust operating system, demonstrating that their commitment extends beyond mere promises. Active testing of these improvements signals that users can expect a more refined experience as these updates begin to roll out in May 2026.
