I cannot find Quick Access in the new updated file explorer.

Anonymous
2023-09-27T14:02:02+00:00

I completed the latest Windows update this morning and opened File Explorer, and the quick access was missing. I can still add files to quick access, but it is nowhere to be seen. When I search the internet, they refer to how great the new file explorer is. Without quick access, it is pretty useless to me, and I want to find out how to get it back.

I do not have AAD. However, the descriptions I see on the internet imply that I am looking at the AAD version and not the consumer version. A lot of the information to describe the new file explorer states the following "Users signed in with Azure Active Directory (AAD) will see a recommended files strip with thumbnail previews. Consumer devices will only show the “Quick Access”, “Favorites” and “Recent” sections."

I wish to see the “Quick Access”, “Favorites” and “Recent” sections." but cannot work out how to do it.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2023-09-29T08:01:11+00:00

Hi,
Same problem here.
Under Privacy, here is just no such setting. All I can see is:
Image

What can I do now? I just can't pin anything. Can't add folders to Home. Best I can do is pin them to Start which is far from ideal.

Thanks

Quentin

I fixed this by un-checking the Show Recommended Section option.

Quick access tiles are back, but they are now arranged in a horizontal list. Seems like a couple of bugs here. But at least I have my quick action icons back.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-01T17:18:09+00:00

    Sorry for the late reply. The two files that weren't deleting happened to me as well.

    I kept trying to delete them until I finally was able to. I don't remember what exactly I did that finally allowed me to delete them, but I after everything I tried, I would refresh the page or even open the page in a separate tab.

    I know it's not exactly the answer to your question, but I assumed they weren't deleting because I was having massive performance issues with my computer before I performed a reset. I assumed that the files not deleting were a part of those performance issues.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-02T18:25:21+00:00

    Under Privacy I do not see "Show recently used files in Quick access" option. What are my options?

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-03T17:00:13+00:00

    I posted this earlier but people seem to have missed it. Try this:

    "Ok so i figured it out - for me atleast.

    On the left hand side, scroll to the bottom of the folders list into the blank space just below your last folder and the "x items" ribbon. Right-click the empty space, when you do it correctly a flyout will appear with three options:

    Show Libraries

    Show All Folders

    Expand to Current Folder

    "show all folders" probably has a tick next to it - Uncheck it. The sidebar will go blank (or only show one folder) for a few seconds and voila - all is right with the world once more.

    I have no idea why that became the default for explorer and why that option is buried in such an unintuitive place. Such a ridiculous problem for MS to make. Anyway hope that works for everyone - im glad to have my quick access bar back!"

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-03T17:30:35+00:00

    big Thank you!

    PS: To everyone, the Quick Access link did not appear for me, but I started to see most recent folders and then I re-added the folders that I want to see to Quick Access, and they stay there permanently.

    Microsoft really underestimated users like us that have tons of folders that we need to access constantly on daily basis, their Windows 11 should have defaulted to show it. Or maybe it was just our PC Support people migrating us from Win10 who should have setup the upgrade for us!

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