Dealing with the “Working on it” hang in File Explorer on Windows 11 is pretty annoying. Sometimes, it just refuses to move past that message, especially when you’re trying to access folders or external devices. It feels like the system gets stuck in limbo, and no amount of clicking can fix it. Usually, it’s some glitch or a corrupted cache, but occasionally, malware or system file issues are to blame. The good news is, there’s no need for fancy tools or deep tech knowledge — most fixes are straightforward, but a few might need a bit of patience. Doing the right steps can rescue your File Explorer from that limbo state and get things moving again. So, here’s the rundown of what’s worth trying, and hopefully, at least one of these methods fixes the problem.
How to Fix the “Working on it” Error in Windows 11 File Explorer
Restart your PC — because sometimes, it’s just that simple
This is kind of the classic move. Restarting clears out temporary bugs or glitches that might be jamming the system. Trust, it’s worth a shot before diving into more complicated stuff. When File Explorer is frozen, a reboot might be enough to get it unstuck, especially if the thing’s been running all day or parachuting in extra apps in the background.
To do it, click Start, hit the Power icon, and select Restart. When Windows boots back up, check if the File Explorer glitch persisted. On some setups, it might fail the first time, but then after a reboot, things look better. Not sure why it works, but hey, it’s a quick fix at least.
Restart Windows Explorer — quick fix to refresh the GUI
Windows Explorer, the main program behind File Explorer, sometimes just needs a nudge. Restarting it through Task Manager re-initializes the interface, which can clear up whatever’s blocking it. I’ve seen this fix work on many machines, especially when the explorer.exe process gets wonky after some update or data corruption.
Here’s how:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly. Or, search “Task Manager” from the start menu.
- Click the Processes tab if it’s not already selected.
- Scroll down to find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and pick Restart.
Expect the taskbar and desktop icons to disappear briefly, then come back. If File Explorer was stuck, it should now be refreshed. Sometimes it’s a little hit and miss, but overall, it’s worth trying this before messing with settings or files.
Unplug and reconnect external devices — because of course Windows has to make it harder than it needs to be
External drives, USB sticks, printers — if any aren’t plugged in right, they can interfere with File Explorer. Kind of weird, but I’ve had external drives cause Explorer to freeze on load or get stuck at that “Working on it” message. Usually, just safely removing and reconnecting the device helps clear that up.
Make sure to safely eject the device from the system tray, then plug it back in. Also, try plugging into a different USB port or use a different cable if possible. This step often triggers Windows to re-scan and re-attach the device properly, which can fix that sticking point.
Clear File Explorer cache — because a corrupted cache can be sneaky
File Explorer saves recent file lists, history, and quick access info, and if that cache gets corrupted, it might hang trying to load it. Clearing it is usually simple. It’s a good shot if it’s lagging when opening specific folders or if the error seems tied to particular locations.
Go to Settings > Privacy & security > File Explorer. Or search “File Explorer options” directly. Next:
- Open File Explorer Options.
- Switch to the General tab.
- In the Privacy section, hit Clear.
- Set Open File Explorer to: This PC.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Reboot your PC afterward to make sure all caches are [hopefully] refreshed. Sometimes, Windows just loves to keep old weird data, and clearing it can bring File Explorer back to a sane state.
Optimize folders for general items — sometimes this speeds things up
If you have a folder loaded with mixed file types, it might bog down File Explorer. Changing the folder’s settings to optimize for general items can reduce some load and stop it from freezing.
Right-click on a folder, choose Properties, then go to the Customize tab. In Optimize this folder for:, select General items, then hit Apply. Doing this for problematic folders, especially those with large or diverse file sets, can help loosen things up — at least temporarily.
Rebuild the search index — especially if you’re having trouble searching
If the issue occurs primarily when you search inside File Explorer, the index might be corrupted. Rebuilding it often helps fix the “Working on it” lag during searches or when typing.
Type “Indexing options” in Windows Search and open it. In the window that pops up:
- Click the Advanced button.
- Switch to Index Settings tab.
- Hit the Rebuild button—warning, it may take a while depending on your data size.
Once it’s done, give your PC a restart for good measure. Rebuilding can fix stuck searches and update the index with your latest files.
Run antivirus scans — because malware can turn File Explorer into a nightmare
Sometimes, bad stuff lurking in your system can cause weird File Explorer behavior. Running a full scan with Windows Security can identify and eliminate malware that might be causing the freeze.
Open Windows Security from the start menu, go to Virus & Threat Protection, then select Scan Options. Choose Full Scan and click Scan Now. Don’t interrupt it; let it do its thing. Afterward, check if the explorer issues are gone. It’s a simple check that can save you headaches later.
SFC and DISM for corrupted system files — the holy grail for system issues
System files may get corrupted over time, especially after updates or crashes. Running System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can repair broken parts behind the scenes and fix Explorer hangs caused by system corruption.
Open Command Prompt as administrator:
- Type “Command Prompt” in search, right-click, and select Run as administrator.
Then, run these commands one at a time:
sfc /scannowand, if errors appear, follow up with:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthIt sometimes takes a while, so grab a coffee. Restart your PC once both are done. Hopefully, that unearths and fixes system issues causing the Explorer hiccups.
Cleanup your drive — because lack of space can make Explorer miserable
If your drive is nearly full, File Explorer might get bogged down trying to load or access files. Run the built-in Disk Cleanup utility to free up space.
Search “Disk Cleanup” and open the app. Pick your system drive (usually C:), then let it scan. Confirm the files it suggests deleting, hit OK, then confirm again. Prefers to delete temporary files, old logs, or Windows update backups that are just gathering dust. More space — happier Explorer.
Ensure Windows is up-to-date — bugs are fixed in patches
And finally, bugs in Windows itself can cause issues like this. Making sure your OS is current can fix known bugs that cause File Explorer to freeze.
Navigate to Settings > Windows Update and hit Check for updates. Install any updates available, restart if needed, and test again. Sometimes, an update is all it takes to turn the Explorer nightmare around.
If all that sounds like overkill, sometimes just a simple restart or cleaning up a specific folder is enough. But if nothing works, chances are you’re looking at a deeper system glitch or corruption — which these steps hopefully cover. Good luck, and hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fingers crossed this helps!
Summary
- Try a quick restart first — can clear glitches fast.
- Restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager.
- Reconnect external devices properly.
- Clear File Explorer’s cache and history.
- Optimize folders to reduce load.
- Rebuild the search index if searching is slow.
- Run full antivirus scans.
- Use SFC and DISM for corrupted system files.
- Clean up your drive to free space.
- Update Windows for fixes and security.
Wrap-up
That’s quite a list, but one of these methods usually helps. Mostly, it’s about ruling out common culprits: bugs, cache issues, or corrupted files. If the problem persists after all the above, maybe time to consider a deeper system repair or resetting Windows. But in most cases, a combination of rebooting, cleaning caches, and system file checks will do the trick. Hope this points someone in the right direction — good luck!