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

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.

0 comments

170 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-16T00:01:08+00:00

    I was wondering about this too. I think I figured a way to get it.

    Right click on the left pane. Uncheck "Show all folders". This segments the left lane into three. The top has Home and Cloud, the middle section is the Quick Access and Recent folders, and the bottom sections are your drives. Quick access folders just have a pin next to them.

    I was initially confused because I was trying to spot "Quick Access" but found it nowhere. Hope this helps.

    Folks, we have a winner! Though the section is not labeled as such, this is the quick access. I use a temp folder. My quick access is visible in this described area.

    I had to go into options to find and uncheck show all folders. But there are my quick access shortcuts clear as day!

    Big shout out to Cyked92!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-17T17:55:44+00:00

    I had everything working the way I liked it (quick access and favorites for FOLDERS). Now in home and favorites I see only files and recently used. For my classes I need access to folders, except now I have to use file explorer like I did years ago. I liked having access to certain folders, not just files.

    Also, everyone keeps saying quick access is no Home, but nothing new gets stored there (or in favorites for that matter) when I try to add folders.

    Is there a way to go back to the way it was. What was the purpose of making things worse.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-18T07:15:04+00:00

    Its getting worse :-( After I have re-enabled Quick Acces (by unchecking the "Show All Folders" option), the functionality seems to be completely broken - the "Pin to Quick access" command invoked on som recent folder pins another folder (how it chooses it remains mystery for me) - see the following video clip: Windows11-quick-access-goodie.mp4

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-20T18:28:24+00:00

    Not much help, sorry.

    right clicking a folder and selecting "pin to quick access" does not make that folder appear in Favorites, as one would expect according to that

    explanation.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-20T19:23:25+00:00

    Hmmm, so I was being a bit slow on the uptake!

    It appears that in the latest Windows 11 release, Quick Access in the left navigation pane has been removed as a folder in its own right.

    If you want to access recently used files and folders, Quick Access is now found by clicking the Home option in the navigation pane.

    Once again Microsoft makes things less clear and fixes something which wasn't broken.

    TOTALLY AGREE!!

    On top of that, some of the pins disappear the next time you open it. :-(

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments