How to Fix Windows 11 Moving Files Slowly
Plus a free app to try
Are your file transfer tasks taking longer than usual on your Windows 11 PC? If so, you may have apps running in your system’s background, causing delays in file transfers. There are other reasons this issue occurs, but luckily, you can apply a few tweaks to your computer and sort out your problem. We’ll show you how to do that on your machine.
Close Unused Apps on Your Windows PC
When yourfile transfer tasks are slower than usual, the first item to check is the apps running in your system’s background. You may have unused apps running on your computer, using valuable resources and leaving little to no resources for your file transfer tasks.
In this case, close those unwanted apps to fix your copy speed issue. You can close most apps on your Windows 11 PC by selecting theXicon in the app’s top-right corner. If an app refuses to quit,use Task Manager to force-quit the app, as follows:
Related:If you’re running into errors when moving or copying files, check out ourguide to fixing Error 0x80070522 in Windows.
Turn Off Unwanted Startup Apps and Reboot Your PC
If your issue persists,give your Windows 11 PC a rebootand see if that resolves the problem. Restarting your computer often fixes many minor issues, some of which may affect your file copy tasks.
Before rebooting your computer,review your startup listand disable any apps you don’t want to launch on your computer’s boot. We show you how to do that as well below.
Update Your Windows 11 Operating System Version
Your file transfers are sluggish becauseyour Windows versionis outdated. You may be using an old version of Windows 11, which likely has many bugs, causing your file transfers to be slow.
In this case,update your Windows version.
Run a Virus Scan on Your PC
If your file transfer tasks take longer than expected, your PC may be infected with a virus or malware. Such items can cause your various system processes to slow down.
In this case,run a full virus scan and remove any threats from your machine. You can use your favorite third-party antivirus tool to do that. If you don’t have one, use the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus to perform a full scan.
Change Your PC’s Bandwidth Option
If you’re experiencingslow transfers on a network, free up the bandwidth that your system has reserved for high-priority tasks. This will let you transfer your files faster on your network.
Update Your USB Drivers to Speed Up File Transfers
If you’re facing issues transferring files to a USB drive, Windows’ USB drivers may be outdated. In this case,update your drivers to the latest versionto fix the issue.
Use a Third-Party File Transfer Utility
If your data transfer tasks are still slow, consider using a third-party app to transfer files on your computer. These apps allow you to copy or move files faster than Windows’ standard move or copy feature.
One such free and open-source app you can use isCopy Handler. You can install this app on your PC, set it as the default file transfer app, and start moving your files around faster than before.
Troubleshooting Windows 11’s Slow File Transfer Issue
Slow file transfer speeds are frustrating as it takes ages to move your files. If you can’t resolve this issue even after multiple attempts to move your files, use the methods described above to fix your problem. These methods helpimprove your transfer speeds, so you can get even your large files moving in no time on your Windows 11 PC. Enjoy!
Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio
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