Two Default Windows 11 Features That Can Slow Down Your PC (and How to Fix Them)
Windows 11 comes with several performance-enhancing improvements, but it also enables certain background features that can make your system feel slower, especially on devices with older hardware or large file directories. Two of the biggest culprits are Auto-Discovery in File Explorer and the Start menu’s Bing integration. Both can affect how fast Windows responds to basic actions like searching for files or opening folders.
Below is a detailed explanation of what each feature does, why it causes slowdowns, and how to safely disable it using the Windows Registry.
1. Auto-Discovery in File Explorer
What It Does
By default, File Explorer in Windows 11 automatically scans and analyzes every folder you open to determine the file types inside. It then applies a “custom view” (such as Pictures, Documents, or Videos) based on what it finds. This process is called Auto-Discovery of Folder Contents.
While this feature can make folder views more dynamic, it slows down File Explorer when you open folders with hundreds or thousands of files—especially if they contain mixed file types. You might notice long load times, a lagging address bar, or “Working on it…” messages when browsing large directories.
Why It Slows Things Down
Each time you open a folder, Windows tries to:
- Read metadata (thumbnails, file types, tags).
- Assign a folder template based on detected content.
- Refresh sorting and grouping options automatically.
These repeated scans increase disk I/O and CPU usage, leading to visible delays.
How to Disable Auto-Discovery
You can stop this behavior by adding a simple registry entry that tells Windows not to apply automatic folder type templates.
⚠️ Important: Modifying the registry can cause issues if done incorrectly. Back up your registry before making changes.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell - Right-click on the Shell key and select New > Key.
Name the new key:Bags - Inside Bags, create a new String Value (REG_SZ) named:
FolderType - Double-click FolderType and set its value to:
NotSpecified - Click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart File Explorer.
After this change, File Explorer will no longer automatically reassign folder types, which can improve folder load times significantly—particularly on HDD-based systems or when working with large projects.
2. Start Menu Search with Bing
What It Does
When you search for something in the Windows 11 Start menu, your query doesn’t just look for local files and apps. By default, Windows also sends the search term to Bing and returns web results. While this integration can be convenient, it introduces delay because Windows must connect to Microsoft’s servers each time you perform a search.
Why It Slows Things Down
Every time you type into the Start menu:
- Windows waits for a response from Bing.
- The UI loads additional elements such as advertisements or suggested web results.
- It increases network traffic and background CPU usage, especially on slower internet connections.
This can cause noticeable lag when opening the Start menu or searching for local items like Control Panel tools, system settings, or installed applications.
How to Disable Bing Search Integration
You can stop Start menu searches from going online by changing two registry values. This makes searches faster and private, since they stay on your device.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search - In the right pane, right-click and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Create two entries if they don’t already exist:BingSearchEnabled CortanaConsent - Double-click each entry and set the Value data to:
0 - Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.
This disables Bing web results in the Start menu search, forcing Windows to return local-only results (files, apps, and settings) instantly.
Additional Tips to Speed Up Windows 11
If you’ve already applied these registry tweaks, there are a few more performance settings worth checking:
- Turn off visual effects:
Go to System > Advanced System Settings > Performance Settings and select Adjust for best performance. - Disable background apps:
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and toggle off background permissions for apps you don’t need running. - Clean up startup programs:
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) → Startup Apps tab → disable any non-essential programs. - Update your drivers and Windows version:
Keeping Windows updated ensures File Explorer, search, and registry performance improvements are applied.
Summary
Two Windows 11 defaults — Auto-Discovery in File Explorer and Bing Search integration in the Start menu — can subtly slow down your system:
| Feature | Effect | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Discovery in File Explorer | Causes slow folder loading when scanning large directories | Add FolderType = NotSpecified under Shell registry key |
| Start menu search with Bing | Sends every search to the web, delaying local results | Set BingSearchEnabled = 0 in registry |
By disabling these, you’ll notice faster folder navigation, quicker search results, and reduced background activity.
Always back up your registry before making edits, and restart your system afterward for changes to take effect.
