Some icons on File Explorer's navigation pane appear after a delay.

B8mfN9Y7 · 09 May 2020

I uploaded the screen-cast here. Navigation_Pane_Icon_Delay - Streamable

It becomes a distraction to me every time I launch the Explorer. I have searched on Google extensively about it but found none related to it. I have already read the articles relating to resetting the navigation pane's expanded state and missing navigation pane. I have also tried tweaking Registry Editor AFAIK but cannot find the solution. Can someone help me out to address this issue, please? Thanks in advance.

The Windows I am using is Windows 10 Pro 1909 (OS Build 18363.815).

dalchina · 10 May 2020

Hi, try disabling in turn access to Dropbox, Onedrive and your network and see if that makes a difference.

It could also be interesting to compare the performance of another file manager.

B8mfN9Y7 · 10 May 2020

Hi dalchina,

Thank you for your help. I did as you suggested. I disabled access to Dropbox and OneDrive by quitting the app and blocking them on the Firewall, but there was no difference. I disabled the network connection by disabling the network adapters. After repeated testing, I found there's a clear correlation between the network connection and the delay appearance of icons. The icons just appear as normal without an internet connection. I found any form of network disconnection like turning off Wi-Fi makes a difference. I even found that the slower the internet speed the slower the icons appear in the navigation pane.

As with your second suggestion, I tested with Total Commander on Dropbox and OneDrive folders. There's no problem found. I don't know how to test like in navigation pane for Total Commander.

I think the correlation with the network connection is the real problem here. Thank you for your pin-pointed correct expert opinion. It makes a big difference to me (I even reset the icon cache yesterday before your reply but it resulted in vain). May I know what I can do without disabling the network connection to address the issue here?

dalchina · 11 May 2020

Thanks- networking ('sharing') can be problematic and erratic, unfortunately. I'd suggest you consider each networked device and remove each in turn to see if you can identify one which gives rise to this problem.

Simply start by switching networked devices off.. if you can tie it down to one device, that may help.

I can't recall seeing a similar report, but there may be one of course.

If you wanted an analytical approach, you could use MS's Windows Perfomance Analyzer and Recorder - the output is detailed and presented graphically, but most find it daunting. (Searching the forum for that will give examples- tutorial available).

B8mfN9Y7 · 11 May 2020

Hi dalchina, I've checked the network as you said. I'm using the computer on public network. I don't have any networked device to remove. I occasionally use internet with my iPad hotspot. I have three network adapters iPad, VPN and Broadcom. I tested with only iPad or Broadcom adapter each. But there's no difference.

I think when I have internet connection File Explorer try to connect to internet before the icons appear. When I don't have internet connection, there's no delay. I think since I have no local network connection the problem lays with the internet connection. I have the same problem with both public Wi-Fi and iPad hotspot.

I also tried to analyze the events with Windows Performance Analyzer as you suggested. I checked the UI Delays graph in WPA but explorer.exe didn't show any UI delay thread in the recording. I tried it twice to confirm that. I also tried to find the problem with CPU Usage and TcpIp Events AFAIK, but I didn't find anything related to my issue. But I found a lot of TcpIp Events from System and other applications but not explorer.exe. I usually do not enable Dropbox and OneDrive apps at startup. I open them only when I need to sync. That's why I didn't see any event related to Dropbox or OneDrive during the recording (except DropboxUpdate.exe running in the background but did not see it starting any TcpIp event).

May I know other Windows users have the same issue or the delay is normal? I think I noticed it after I tried to add Google Drive to navigation pane since it's not originally added (Add Google Drive to File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10). After removing it manually from navigation pane, I think the problem occurred.

If the problem is not solved, I have to try to reinstall the cloud storage clients or remove them from navigation pane (Solved: How does one remove the Dropbox link from the Navi... - Dropbox Community) and pin Dropbox/OneDrive folders to Quick Access.

Am I missing something or do I misunderstand you instruction? Thank you for your follow-up instructions and advice.

dalchina · 11 May 2020

Are we talking about the same Network? I thought you were referring to the local Network - e.g. other PCs on the network - the Network icon in the Nav. Pane. Do you have any of those?

B8mfN9Y7 · 11 May 2020

Yes, I'm at a public place and I only have access to public network. At least I connect it as a public. So when I click the network icon in the Nav, the "Network discovery is turned off" message pops up.

I've turned on my Network Discovery and I did not see any other devices or computer in the network.

Megabyte Doctor · 12 May 2020

I'm gonna ask a really stoopid question here.

Solid State Drive or Mechanical Hard Drive?

Also, it can completely depend on the network you are, or are not, connected to.

Because Drop Box & One Drive both, usually, store their files on ALL PC's connected to the same Drop Box or One Drive account then Windows has to have a look to see if there are any files that it needs to sync to these services......in either direction.

And it won't make any difference if you are actually connecte or not to a network as Windows still has to go look is it has a connection and it may ping the Drop Box & One Drive servers to see if they are present on the network.

All this akes time and that may be the problem you are having.

Also, what speed is your Internet connection?

B8mfN9Y7 · 12 May 2020

Hi Megabyte Doctor,

My drive is Solid State Drive.

I think File Explorer goes through the network before showing up other icons except Quick Access and This PC. I mean in my case Dropbox and OneDrive shortcuts. I just found out yesterday that Network icon in the Nav also shows up delay along with Dropbox/OneDrive icons.

I thinks it's general File Explorer function to check through the network before showing up the other icons in Nav. I say it because I disable the start up process of DropBox and OneDrive cause I don't like being synced all the time. So there is no even background process running associated with them. The second fact is not only Dropbox/OneDrive folders but Network icon also appear with a delay. That means the delay is not associated with particular softwares. It's associated with general Explorer function or process having to go through network before showing up the icons in Nav.

When network connection is disabled the delay does not occur. I think it's associated with internet. I cannot test only with local connection because I'm not in my private network. I can only connect to public network with internet access. When there's no network connection the icons are there from the start like Quick Access and This PC icons.

I know Dropbox and OneDrive check the connection before opening up. But I'm not running them even in the background. Second, I know the Explorer need to check the connection before showing up the icons. I just want to prevent the process on some items if I can do this in Windows. Do you use Dropbox or OneDrive? Do they show up late on your computer? How about the Network icon too?

My current internet speed is 14 Mbps. Thank you for your suggestion and explanation concerning with my problem. Kudos to you.