If you get the “working on it” message in the File Explorer of Windows 10, it could be the problem caused by Quick Access cache.
“Quick Access” is a virtual location, where the updated recent files and folders are listed. Sometimes, the File Explorer may slow down because of an overloaded or corrupted cache of File Explorer’s Quick Access function.
The “Working on it” message may last few seconds in the beginning, but it may grow more over the increase in the use of File Explorer. So, it is good to clear the cache to get a temporary solution.
Here, we have to do two things. First, is to clear the File Explorer History. Second, is to delete the File Explorer cache.
How to clear the File Explorer History?
First, open the file explorer. In the “View” tab on the top of the screen, you can see “Options” with a downwards arrow. Click it. Now, you will see Folder Options window. In the General tab, set the “Open File Explorer to” to “This PC”.
This setting will help you to open “This PC” instead of Quick Access in Windows 10. (This is just a temporary solution. Sometimes, this setting alone may solve the issue. Please continue to the next steps to clear the File Explorer History)
Under the Privacy section on the bottom of the same window, you can see “Clear” button. Click on this “Clear” button to delete all the history of recent files and folders stored by File Explorer. After this step, We have to delete the File Explorer cache.
How to delete the File Explorer cache?
Open the below location in the File Explorer.
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
In the “AutomaticDestinations” folder, delete all the files. This will clear all the File Explorer cache and thus solve the “Working on it” issue. If you wish, you can change the settings in “Open File Explorer to” to “Quick access” instead of “This PC”.
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