Windows Explorer memory usage normal?


Silvkai

New member
Local time
4:37 AM
Posts
3
OS
Windows 11
Good morning,
I have noticed in the recent days (it may be nothing) but Windows Explorer is using a fair bit of RAM. I noticed the usage will continue to grow when opened. I guess this is normal behaviour, the issues I am seeing is the usage does not seem to go back down. I have had it sitting at over 700MB usage. I can get this to go down manually by resetting the task but surely I shouldn't need to do this? Again this may or may not be a lot, this is why I am here to ask this question. Is this normal behaviour?

Windows 11, chipset etc are all up to date.
CPU - 7800X3D
GPU - 4090
RAM - 64GB @ 6000mhz
Windows is installed on a 1TB M.2 SSD

Thanks for taking the time to read through.
Dan.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
How is the memory usage at Safe Mode?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
How is the memory usage at Safe Mode?
Thank you for your comment, I haven't checked. I will make sure to check when I get home. If the usage does go down in safe mode is it safe to assume I may have an issue?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
If the memory usage drops down then perform clean boot.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
Should the memory usage go back down instantly? Or does it take time to do so? I could potentially be worrying over nothing. The overall PC performance is perfect. Just something I noticed and thought was odd.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
The 700MB is too much memory usage if you are not doing anything, my File Explorer memory usage about 60 MB.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
I had the same kind of issue where I was watching my Windows Explorer going from 100mb to 800mb+ if you open and close the File Explorer, I'd close all windows but it never seemed to release the RAM from Windows Explorer.

I've only started using Windows 11 in the past 3 days and it was something that was annoying me, I ended up removing the "widgets" ( Win + W ) with a regedit and it seems to have solved the issue for me at least. Might be worth a try.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 7600X
    Motherboard
    MSI B650 Gaming
    Memory
    TeamGroup 32GB 6000Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Ventus 3060ti OC x3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ 27" 165hz + Acer 27" 75hz. Vertical Mount
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1 500GB NVME Boot Drive, 3 500GB - 1TB SATA SSDs
    PSU
    750w Corsair
    Case
    Corsair 750d Airflow
    Cooling
    AIO 240 Corsair Cooler, 3x 120mm Fans. Custom Fan Curve
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 TKLs
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 X Plus
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit. 930 D - 930 U
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows
I have noticed in the recent days (it may be nothing) but Windows Explorer is using a fair bit of RAM. I noticed the usage will continue to grow when opened. I guess this is normal behaviour, the issues I am seeing is the usage does not seem to go back down. I have had it sitting at over 700MB usage.
Have you noticed any problems?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-S
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Have you noticed any problems?
Since removing the widgets?

None at all

Windows Explorer RAM usage seems better, it doesn't seem to stack RAM usage and hold it there like it used to. Running on an average of about 200mb - 300mbs depending on usage. RAM usage drops after 30 seconds to 1 minute after closing File Explorer instead of sitting at 700mb.

Not sure if this is actually a fix and it may have been something completely different on my system but I wasn't planning on using the widgets anyway and I'm comfortable with it being removed through regedit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 7600X
    Motherboard
    MSI B650 Gaming
    Memory
    TeamGroup 32GB 6000Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Ventus 3060ti OC x3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ 27" 165hz + Acer 27" 75hz. Vertical Mount
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1 500GB NVME Boot Drive, 3 500GB - 1TB SATA SSDs
    PSU
    750w Corsair
    Case
    Corsair 750d Airflow
    Cooling
    AIO 240 Corsair Cooler, 3x 120mm Fans. Custom Fan Curve
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915 TKLs
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 X Plus
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit. 930 D - 930 U
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows

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