Fix File explorer Stuck on Working on it in Windows 10 / 11

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Many users have complained that when they open file explorer, it hangs there for many seconds and even for minutes showing message Working on it. Users who are even having SSD installed OS are also complaining about this problem.

 

Working On It



 

But, the good news is that this can be fixed easily. Here is how to do it.

Fix 1 – Clear File explorer history

1. Search file explorer options in Windows 10 taskbar search.

2. Now, click on file explorer options.

3. Now, click on Clear beside clear file explorer history to clear history.

Clear File Explorer History Min

Also Uncheck Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access options and click on Apply and OK.

Screenshot 2022 06 02 151407 Min

4. Now, press CTRL + SHIFT + Esc keys together from keyboard to open task manager.

5. Now, locate Windows explorer. Right click on it and choose restart.

Restart Windows Explorer Min



 Fix 2 – Delete AutomaticDestinations files

1 – Open file explorer and copy and paste the path given below to address bar.

 

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

 



2 – Once the folder opens, select and delete all the files in the folder.
Delete Cache
This will delete Quick access cache and will fix your problem.
Try to open the file explorer again. If the problem persists, try next method given below.

Fix 3 – Rebuild search index

1 – Search indexing options in Windows 10 Taskbar search
2 – Now, Click on Indexing options icons which appeared in search result.
Indexing Options 1
3 – Now, click on advanced 
Advanced
4 – Finally click on Rebuild.
Rebuild Search Index
This will rebuild the search index on your Computer.

Fix 4 – Optimize folder for General Items

1 – For example, your Download folders , while being opened displays this message and hangs there for long time.
To fix this , just right click on your Download folder and Click on properties.
Properties Folder
2 – Now, click on Customize Tab.
3 – Now, choose General items from dropdown list in Optimize this folder for section.
Optimize Folder
4 -Also, check the checkbox saying also apply this template to subfolders 
Also Apply This For Templates
Hope it helped you.

Fix 5 – Kill Onedrive Process in Task manager

1 – Press CTRL + SHIFT + Esc keys together to open task manager.
2 – Now, Locate OneDrive, right click and choose end task.

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7 thoughts on “Fix File explorer Stuck on Working on it in Windows 10 / 11”

  4. Found a quicker solution: Just restart windows explorer from task manager after clearing recent items and folder history 🙂

  5. Found the culprit on my PC, Explorer would hang and nothing happens, the above didn’t work, but this worked:

    Opened Task manager and killed the OneDrive process.
    All of the sudden all my folders opened up immediately.

  6. None of these made any difference for me. The only thing that “cures” this is restarting explorer in task manager, but soon it will happen again. Today I’ve already had to restart explorer three times because it keeps hanging.

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