File Explorer is not the fastest way to search on Windows. Try these alternative tools instead

It’s well known that Windows’ File Explorer can be quite laggy at times even on very powerful machines, as this Reddit user pointed out. Microsoft has released dozens of Windows updates where the Redmond-based tech giant addressed the issue, but time and time again File Explorer becomes slow, despite these improvements.

However, there are some solutions.

First, there are ways to make File Explorer on Windows faster. We have a couple of articles where we gathered up some of the easiest-to-implement solutions to make File Explorer run smoothly as a sail. You can check them here, and here.

But if these solutions don’t work, or you simply want to try something else, there are a lot of File Explorer alternatives out there. You can check this Reddit thread to find out more, but we’re going to gather some of them up here.

Windows File Explorer alternatives: 5 apps you should try

1. Everything.exe

Everything.exe has been lauded by the Windows users community as being one of the faster File Explorer alternatives out there.

It can be downloaded from here, just make sure to download the right version for your device, and read all the documentation before installing it.

2. WizTree

Wiztree is also a suitable solution for those Windows users who have a lot of files on their devices. This alternative to File Explorer can handle terabytes in just a matter of seconds.

Wiztree64.exe is a file tree viewer that can map terabytes in seconds.

Reddit user

It can be downloaded from here, and it’s free if you use it for personal devices.

3. Agent Ransack

This free tool has been on the market for over 20 years, and it receives many updates regularly. On Reddit, this one is lauded as being fast, efficient, and quite easy to get along with.

You can download it from here, and it also has a Premium version if you want some extra features.

4. UltraSearch

This could also be a good alternative, although you’ll only have free access to its entire capabilities for 30 days. So, if you find it fast and efficient in the first 30 days of use, just know that several Premium capabilities will be gone after that date, if you don’t get the Premium version.

However, the free version should be more than enough to replace most of the Windows File Explorer capabilities.

You can download it from here.

5. Microsoft Powertoys

This is a Microsoft-backed platform that once installed on Windows devices, users have access to software that runs faster in Windows, such as the search tool.

While it would defeat the purpose (as you wouldn’t use an independent tool), many Reddit users are recommending the search tool as an effective alternative for File Explorer, and many think Microsoft Powertoys should be installed on Windows devices by default.

You can find it in Microsoft Store, and you can get it for free.

These are our recommendations. However, before you try them, make sure you follow the guides on how to make File Explorer run faster. Sometimes that is all you have to do.