I was working on an important project, with multiple files open and several applications running simultaneously. My computer was running smoothly until I noticed something unusual: the performance started to lag, and my battery life was draining faster than usual. I decided to check the Task Manager to see what might be causing the issue. That’s when I spotted the culprit – Windows Explorer was consuming an excessive amount of power. The usage percentage was alarmingly high, and it was affecting my overall system performance.
Initially, I didn’t think much of it and tried a few basic troubleshooting steps. I closed some applications and restarted Windows Explorer, but the high power consumption persisted. This was particularly frustrating because I had to ensure my laptop remained functional for several more hours of work. Determined to resolve this issue, I began to delve deeper into possible solutions.
The first step I took was to ensure my Windows 11 system was fully updated. Sometimes, bugs that cause high power consumption can be fixed in the latest updates. I navigated to Settings > Update & Security and checked for updates. After the system had installed the latest updates, I restarted my computer to see if that resolved the issue. Unfortunately, the problem remained. Windows Explorer was still consuming an excessive amount of power, and my laptop was still struggling with performance.
I then decided to look into whether there were any specific file types or folders that might be causing Windows Explorer to malfunction. I realized that I had recently accessed a network drive and a large number of files within it. To test this theory, I disconnected the network drive and observed the performance of Windows Explorer. It turned out that the power usage reduced significantly when the network drive was not connected. This led me to believe that the problem might be related to how Windows Explorer was handling network resources or large directories.
To address this, I focused on optimizing the way Windows Explorer handles files and folders. I started by clearing out the recent files and folder history. Sometimes, accumulated history can cause Windows Explorer to consume excessive resources. I went to File Explorer Options, under the View tab, and clicked on “Clear” to clear the File Explorer history. After doing this, I rebooted my computer and monitored the power usage. Although there was a slight improvement, the high power consumption issue was not entirely resolved.
Next, I decided to investigate the possibility of corrupted system files affecting Windows Explorer’s performance. I ran the System File Checker tool, which is built into Windows. I opened Command Prompt as an administrator and typed the command sfc /scannow. This tool scans for and attempts to repair any corrupted system files. Once the scan was complete, I restarted my computer. The power usage of Windows Explorer improved slightly, but it still wasn’t optimal.
Determined to find a more permanent solution, I turned my attention to optimizing Windows Explorer itself. I began by disabling some of the visual effects that might be contributing to high power usage. I went to System Properties, clicked on Advanced system settings, and under Performance, I selected “Adjust for best performance.” This setting disables many of the graphical enhancements in Windows Explorer, which can reduce power consumption. After applying these settings and rebooting, I observed a noticeable improvement in power usage, though Windows Explorer still consumed more power than I would have liked.
Another strategy I employed was to reset the Windows Explorer settings to their default state. Sometimes, customizations or changes can lead to performance issues. I accessed File Explorer Options again and clicked on the “Restore Defaults” button. This action reset all File Explorer settings to their default values. After applying these changes, I restarted my computer, but the problem persisted.
Feeling a bit stuck, I decided to search online forums and support communities for similar issues. I discovered that some users had resolved similar problems by performing a clean boot of Windows. A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which helps in identifying whether background programs are causing issues. I performed a clean boot by typing msconfig in the Run dialog, navigating to the Services tab, and selecting “Hide all Microsoft services” before clicking “Disable all.” I also went to the Startup tab and disabled all startup items. After restarting my computer, I monitored Windows Explorer’s power usage. The clean boot significantly reduced power consumption, confirming that third-party applications or services were likely the cause of the problem.
Finally, I restored my system to its normal startup configuration and began re-enabling services and startup programs one by one. This method helped me identify that a specific third-party application was causing the high power usage issue. Once I identified the problematic application, I decided to update it or uninstall it if it wasn’t essential. After making these changes, I noticed a significant reduction in Windows Explorer’s power consumption, and my computer’s performance returned to normal.
In summary, tackling the issue of high power usage by Windows Explorer involved a multi-faceted approach. I updated my system, optimized file handling, cleared history, repaired system files, adjusted visual effects, reset settings, and ultimately identified a third-party application causing the problem. Each step helped narrow down the potential causes and contributed to resolving the issue effectively. My laptop’s performance improved significantly, and I was able to continue my work without further interruptions.