"Backup > Load from XML File..." needs endless to open FileDialog

Describe the bug

Since I updated to version 4.4.196, it needs endless long when I try to load a config file using: "Backup > Load from XML File..."

Area of issue

Installation/Other

To reproduce

Open "Open-Shell Menu Settings (Classic Shell)"
Choose "Backup"
Choose "Load from XML File..."
it takes about 30s to 1min until the FileOpenDialog opens

Expected behavior

The FileOpenDialog should open imediately after launching the menu item.

Open-Shell version

4.4.196

Windows version

Windows 11 Pro 24H2

Additional context

My Environment

Edition	Windows 11 Pro
Version	24H2
Installed on	‎11.‎03.‎2025
OS build	26100.6899
Experience	Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

Device name	desktop
Processor	13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900 (2.00 GHz)
Installed RAM	32,0 GB (31,7 GB usable)
Device ID	FF2AA11B-69AC-438A-8792-0C0B2FAAEFFC
Product ID	00330-80951-65726-AA963
System type	64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch	No pen or touch input is available for this display

Let me know how to provide more information to debug this issue.

I experience this same issue on the same version. Also, it seems to hang at trying to open C:\Windows\System32 and never allows me to navigate anywhere else. Weird permissions issue?

Oddly, if you click "Cancel" in the "Open" dialog, it does not dismiss it and allows naviation, or at least it allowed me to paste the full path to the xml file to import. So there's a workaround.

I have the same issue and the workaround for me is to spam the windows button to show openshell menu which also allows the exporer dialogue to launch and update.

hi
I have the same problem on new computer, fresh install, Win11Pro 25H2, OpenShell is v4.4.196 (and others except v4.4.194, see below).
I cannot load or save configration, because open/save dialog is not appering; configuration window becomes inactive for a moment, then becomes back active.
I tried different versions, with v4.4.194 only dialog appeared, but after changing skin, and I could traverse tree on left panel, but content of dirs/files panel have not changed (I have had to write full path and filename and press OK to import configuration) - workaround similiar to earthbound19's). with v4.4.196 earthbound19's workaround is working only.
I have also checked different computer with Win11Pro upgraded to 25H2, and there is the same problem (with 24H2 everything was OK)

Following yesterdays Security update for Windows 11 25H2 the Backup /Restore configuration does NOT open at all.

Windows 11 25H2 26200 7171

Following yesterdays Security update for Windows 11 25H2 the Backup /Restore configuration does NOT open at all.

Windows 11 25H2 26200 7171

checked, and earthbound19's workaround is still working - you ned to spam start button before configuration dialog become active

Not here matey. I'll update my last laptop later but so far it's totally non functional on this build.

strange, it works for me,
ok, it doesn't matter if it works or not: we have a bug...

I have the same issue and the workaround for me is to spam the windows button to show openshell menu which also allows the exporer dialogue to launch and update.

sorry - I thought about that (you need to enter full pathname of config file)

I never get a explorer to be able to enter a pathspec in.

click Load from / Save to XML file
move the mouse cursor over the Start button before the configuration window becomes active
then a file selection window will appear. the window itself is dead, you can't select a file, but you can enter the file name and path in the field at the bottom of the window

It's time this was fixed, It's clear microsoft aren't going to do anything to appease this issue.

It's not really open shell that's got the bug, Microsoft in their usual wisdom somehow corrupted the account profiles with the latest updates. I had the same problem so I redid my accounts from scratch and now it works fine. There were several other bugs Microsoft created like the taskbar search icon not responding but those too are fixed now.

You can test it by temporarily creating a new account and it will work as it should.

I have this problem on fresh new comp, fresh install, fresh accounts...

and yes, it's MS... but I think it may be fixed in Open Shell much faster then in Windows 😉

Same issue on Windows 11 25H2, works fine on Windows 10

I didn't have any luck with the workarounds after the most recent updates but...
I installed ExplorerPatcher. Once that was installed, all load & backup functionality was restored.
I was starting to panic that I'd lost the only menu tool that makes Windows 11 functional again.

2025 server, same issue. HongYue1's spamming the start button got me past the hangs at least.

It's not really open shell that's got the bug, Microsoft in their usual wisdom somehow corrupted the account profiles with the latest updates. I had the same problem so I redid my accounts from scratch and now it works fine. There were several other bugs Microsoft created like the taskbar search icon not responding but those too are fixed now.

You can test it by temporarily creating a new account and it will work as it should.

So what we're just supposed to make a new user and lose all our settings and installations?!

I encountered this bug right after installing Windows.

I encountered this bug right after installing Windows.

So did I. I made a new user and the bug was not present. Then I fully remade my own personal user account and the bug was not present. I installed a few applications and logged into my microsoft account on some of them like outlook and onedrive and then the bug suddenly came back. So it's definitely Open-Shell's fault it is freaking out over something. Because funnily enough my TestUser account suddenly obtained the bug too. So whatever caused it wrote itself into the user and now even when I made a new user again the bug is still present.

So what we're just supposed to make a new user and lose all our settings and installations?!

It wasn't just open shell that had problems, Microsoft had borked several taskbar functions. They admitted recently that their latest Win11 updates had done this for some users. Yes it was a pain to re-do both of my accounts but it did work to resolve the issues, including the open shell bugs.

@SuperPat45

So what we're just supposed to make a new user and lose all our settings and installations?!

It wasn't just open shell that had problems, Microsoft had borked several taskbar functions. They admitted recently that their latest Win11 updates had done this for some users. Yes it was a pain to re-do both of my accounts but it did work to resolve the issues, including the open shell bugs.

Well I did that and it worked for a little bit until it didn’t. So it’s not the solution. As soon as you log out of the "fixed" account and log back in the function breaks again.

Plus "Open File Location" works perfectly fine on StartAllBack and even the default WIN11 StartMenu. It's literally OpenShell the only one that has problems.

P.S: In case you didn't notice, @SuperPat45 had the same issue WITH A FRESH INSTALL!

Well I did that and it worked for a little bit until it didn’t. So it’s not the solution. As soon as you log out of the "fixed" account and log back in the function breaks again.

So far I've been lucky then because in both my accounts open shell works fine. But the best solution would be for the developer to fix this on his end if possible.

@SuperPat45

Well I did that and it worked for a little bit until it didn’t. So it’s not the solution. As soon as you log out of the "fixed" account and log back in the function breaks again.

So far I've been lucky then because in both my accounts open shell works fine.

Yeah well I’m quite an active user in terms of installing stuff I’m certain it has something to do with the sheer amount of programs and services I have installed or running. Something is triggering Open-Shell. It’s probably the same stuff @SuperPat45 has installed or enabled since his fresh install also suffered the bug.

But the best solution would be for the developer to fix this on his end if possible.

100% for sure. It’s been too long and the dev said on another post he wasn’t bothered looking into it anytime soon which is seriously concerning.

I had the same issue (Win11 25H2). The fix for me, that I found on another forum, was to press the Windows key each time Open Shell froze on selecting the Backup/Load options or selecting a folder.

Confirming GrahamNZ:

Click on load from XML file..., then press the Windows key.
After that I had to enter the full path in the file box, browsing folders wasn't possible.

Then later, when I wanted to reproduce to write this post, the file open dialog box worked fine (?).
This was after I installed ExplorerPatcher.

Open-Shell Backup solution
OpenShellExt_web

Fix open/save file dialog getting stuck after Windows 11 update

Fix open/save file dialog getting stuck after Windows 11 update (Open…

Navigation Menu

Repository navigation

"Backup > Load from XML File..." needs endless to open FileDialog #2343

Describe the bug

Area of issue

To reproduce

Expected behavior

Open-Shell version

Windows version

Additional context

Metadata

Assignees

Labels

Type

Projects

Milestone

Relationships

Development

"Backup > Load from XML File..." needs endless to open FileDialog #2343

Description

Describe the bug

Area of issue

To reproduce

Expected behavior

Open-Shell version

Windows version

Additional context

Activity

earthbound19 commented on Nov 8, 2025

HongYue1 commented on Nov 8, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 12, 2025

Rollback-Jockey commented on Nov 13, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 13, 2025

Rollback-Jockey commented on Nov 13, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 13, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 13, 2025

Rollback-Jockey commented on Nov 16, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 17, 2025

Rollback-Jockey commented on Nov 17, 2025

marty60 commented on Nov 17, 2025

MarcinSzafran commented on Nov 18, 2025

SuperPat45 commented on Dec 23, 2025

YellowFlasher commented on Dec 26, 2025

jdthird commented on Jan 2, 2026

abubrandino commented on Jan 15, 2026

SuperPat45 commented on Jan 16, 2026

abubrandino commented on Jan 16, 2026

marty60 commented on Jan 17, 2026

abubrandino commented on Jan 17, 2026

marty60 commented on Jan 17, 2026

abubrandino commented on Jan 17, 2026

GrahamNZ commented on Jan 29, 2026

HanVroon commented on Feb 2, 2026

RogerYao-Dev commented on Mar 4, 2026

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

Labels

Type

Projects

Milestone

Relationships

Development

Issue actions