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

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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
    2023-11-13T12:06:16+00:00

    As Dan Warfield1 noted, deseleting "Show recommended section" allowed the Quick Access items to reappear. That, coupled with Ravi Charhar's recommendation, displayed the Quick Access items at the top of the window in the main panel using the your Explorer View settings (i.e., Tiles, Content, etc.).

    Clicking on Home in the navigation pane to expand it revealed the Quick Access items as well in a list sequence. If you want to have the items appear in the navigation pane each time you open the Explorer window without having to click on Home, inside Folder Options, select View and scroll down to "Navigation pane" and check the box next to "Expand to open folder".

    The Quick Access items will now appear in the navigation page but you can no longer rearrange them into a desired sequence with drag and drop. You have to unpin items and then pin them again in the sequence you want them to appear.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-16T11:58:46+00:00

    Hello Scott,
    Were you able to get your Quick Access items to reappear?

    If not, it is a three-pronged approach.

    1. In the Privacy section of the Folder Options, set Open File Explorer to: Home.
    2. In the Privacy section, deselect these check boxes:
      • 'Show recommended section'
      • 'Include account-based insights, recent, favorite, and recommended files.'
    3. Select the View tab and scroll down to Navigation pane and select check box 'Show all folders'.

    Close and reopen your File Explorer and your Quick Access items should appear in the Navigation Pane as well as at the top of the File Explorer window.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-16T06:30:31+00:00

    In my latest version of Windows 11 (Win 11 Pro Ver 23H2 Build 22635.2700) There is no more specific 'Quick Access' section in the Explorer left pane. There is, however, a 'Home' section at the top of the column, containing the usual suspects, and to which custom folders can be pinned using the 'Pin to Quick Access' right-click option. Items appearing here cannot be reordered but will list in the order they are added. That is until Microsoft decides to change everything without notice again!

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-09-27T16:38:55+00:00

    Hey Ron!

    My name is Ravi, an independent advisor and expert user. I am happy to help you. :)

    Please try following these steps to restore Quick Access:

    1. Open File Explorer.
    2. Click on the "View" tab at the top.
    3. Click on "Options" on the right side.
    4. In the "Folder Options" window that appears, select the "General" tab.
    5. Under the "Privacy" section, check the box next to "Show recently used files in Quick access".
    6. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.

    Feel free to get in touch again if you have any additional questions.

    Cheers,

    Ravi

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