Large folders slow down loading times significantly
Large folders slow down loading times significantly
You're experiencing slow performance because of how your files are being processed and stored. The issue might be related to how the system handles large numbers of files on an SSD, especially if the folder structure isn't optimized. Try checking file permissions, ensuring proper indexing, or adjusting cache settings. If the problem persists, consider moving some files to a different drive or reorganizing them for better access speed.
Windows generates preview files, which contributes to the delay. The folder size isn’t the main issue. To reach a particular file, use cmd and go there—it works quickly. Think about using other gallery apps for better management. File Explorer remains single-threaded; the SSD is good but the system doesn’t use it efficiently. Rather than improving existing features, Microsoft added tabs, weather, and news to File Explorer because those are common needs. A simpler approach would be smaller folders or a dedicated file manager. My image collections have been chaotic since the early Mac OS 10.1.
even with a well-crafted explorer tool, the task remains an O(n) challenge. processing grows slower when more files must be loaded. the most practical approach, as others have suggested, is dividing them across several directories. even basic methods like sorting by name or index will make a significant difference
You're experiencing unusual activity with your premium hard drive, especially when dealing with large folders containing 20,000 files.
Yeah i know, i posted this screenshot for clarity so that people won't think it's the average hard drive. I have a folder with 20,000 files and they instantaneously load in windows explorer. It's weird because SSDs should have high random read performance than my hard drive, Could QLC D-RAMless SATA SSD drives be that slow?
It's an SSD with my sort folder, containing items that need organizing but still... Maybe I should explore the file manager option. I'm already using Hydrus for images, but these files aren't sorted yet. I wondered if caching thumbnails—something Windows does automatically and you can reset—would speed things up. Also, it seems File Explorer is generally sluggish, and sometimes I have to restart it because folders don't load properly.
I checked the link you shared and it helped sort and group files just like the file explorer was having trouble. Even with the thumbnails still loading, everything worked smoothly. I’ll post an update later if it meets your needs. Appreciate the advice!
It runs slowly since Windows Explorer likely generates thumbnails and attempts to read EXIF data or other details for each image. Using Total Commander helps avoid uncertainty about possible settings. Consider disabling certain options in Explorer—such as the file icon on thumbnails, showing file size info in folder tips, displaying preview handlers in the preview pane, and checking the folder properties option about indexing files. This should not affect viewing but may improve performance.