Quick Access not showing in navigation pane since Windows 11 update

Anonymous
2022-10-07T05:34:35+00:00

I updated to the latest version of Windows 11 yesterday. When I opened File Explorer, Quick access and recent files/folders were showing to the right of the window, but the Quick Access folder option was missing from the navigation panel on the left. So if I click away from this Window I've lost Quick Access. How do I re-enable Quick Access to the left part of the navigation pane?

Please look at the screenshot before replying. Quick Access is enabled in view mode options and can be seen, but is missing from the left side of the navigation pane.

Thanks for any help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-13T20:08:14+00:00

    Same here. I had a tough time looking for my pinned folders in the quick access after my recent update to Windows 11. But here's what I was able to find and applied so that I can again see my quick access folders.

    Pin, remove, and customize in Quick access - Microsoft Support

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T18:28:46+00:00

    You are right Ian - that doesn't work, and it was an incomplete answer that didn't really address the original problem.

    The following worked for me:

    • select your 'Home folder' within Explorer
    • under the 3 dots to the right of "Filter", select 'Options'
    • under the General tab, Privacy... deselect all the items - you may see 'Quick access' appear in your 'Home' area (I say may appear only as it isn't logical why this should make Quick Access appear, but it has worked for at least two of us on here).
    • if you would still like to have 'Recent' files on 'Home', then reselect 'Show recently used files' and 'Show frequently used folders'

    Hope that helps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T18:25:50+00:00

    The following worked for me, based on a helpful reply already made by Neville below.

    • select your 'Home folder' within Explorer
    • under the 3 dots to the right of "Filter", select 'Options'
    • under the General tab, Privacy... deselect all the items - you may see 'Quick access' appear in your 'Home' area (I did).
    • if you would still like to have 'Recent' files on 'Home', then reselect 'Show recently used files' and 'Show frequently used folders'

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-09T21:03:09+00:00

    FFS! I wondered where it had gone. I add folders there that I work on all the time, always found it the easiest way to access a list of folders I use regularly.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-12-05T13:45:19+00:00

    But restore defaults from the ... menu just brought them back.

    They do not appear in Home as various MS blog suggest they do (files that are favourites do) and they appear after Home, gallery (new in preview), my personal OneDrive, my 5 business OneDrives, desktop, downloads which is bit annoying (I like pinned at the top).

    I also notice that my desktop appears pined (with pin icon) and I can't remove it using unpin (the menu item appears but the pin never goes).

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