Fixing the “RAM Tax”: Microsoft’s New Plan to Make File Explorer Search 2X Faster

Microsoft is testing low-level improvements to File Explorer in Windows 11 that aim to cut memory use and boost responsiveness when searching for files such as images and documents. The changes target the Windows Search Indexer by skipping redundant indexing operations and avoiding repeated scans of the same files or folders, thereby reducing disk I/O and CPU cycles.

These optimisations are already present in Windows 11 Build 26220.7523 and later, with the note that the indexer can still reprocess identical files under certain conditions. The article says the updated approach should lead to lower resource consumption during searches, especially in memory, and that testing continues before final rollout. If past release patterns hold, the improvements are expected to reach stable Windows 11 users via cumulative updates around January or February 2026.

It also cautions that even with these enhancements, File Explorer may trail third-party tools such as Everything for users who search across large volumes of files.