In Windows 11 file explorer navigation pane, how do I move Quick Access pins back to the top of the list?

Ditto! You've summarized this entire thread that has been going on for several years. I think no corporate ear has the responsibility or interest to hear this complaint. A couple of years ago, I went to OneCommander, and it works well as an alternative. Of course, I've had to "learn" the new idiosyncracies of Explorer, which change occasionally without warning and without apparent purpose.

The older someone becomes, the more important this type of issue becomes. Younger professionals, such as the ones in charge of making these changes, surely think they have a good idea that will help. However, they are unfamiliar with long-term familiarity and its interaction with productivity.

So we spend money on new settings, layouts, functions, conflicts, etc., and then enjoy the benefits of a new look.

C'est la vie! I might say, tongue in cheek, "Only in America, Land of Opportunity."

Hi, I think I've found something similar to a solution. In the options menu, you click on the view tab, scroll down to navigation options and then check "show all folders" (I think the "expand to open folder" is not very suitable for the idea of keeping the pinned quick access folders on the top of the navigation pane). Having checked "show all folders", you'll have again the "Home" icon on top of the navigation pane but If you expand it you'll find the pinned folders above the OneDrive folder (instead of vice-versa which is quite annoying)

Hope it helps.

Cheers

OMG

THIS is the way.

Finally figured it out. Under the registry key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace_36354489\DelegateFolders" you're likely to find a key named "{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}" (default value = "CLSID_FrequentPlacesFolder"). Delete that key and the second list disappears.

I also partially solved the related issue that when you disable "Expand to Current Folder", you cannot expand Home in the navigation pane to show the frequent folders. You can make it expandable (i.e. add the little arrow button), but I can't figure out how to make it expanded by default. To add the arrow, change the value named "Attributes_36354489" from 0x2000000 to 0xA0000000 under the keys "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}\ShellFolder" and "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}\ShellFolder". (That's adding the value of SFGAO_HASSUBFOLDER, described here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/sfgao.)

Hope that helps!

Hi Paul. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

Are you able to drag Quick Access category to the top?

Make sure you have Quick Access selected over This PC in File Explorer > View > Options > Change Folder and Search Options > General tab > Open File Explorer to > Quick Access.

You can also try these methods leading up to if necessary Resetting Quick Access to see if that helps:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/pin...

https://superuser.com/questions/1414012/keep-de...

https://www.guidingtech.com/how-to-use-quick-ac...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkRXc5wLWFg

If none of this works and you want to report this to Microsoft you may be able to help improve this product/experience by using the Feedback Hub in Start Menu, especially if you are willing to share logs and other requested information. While they will probably not see this here in the forums, Microsoft developers DO read feedback from customers that comes in via the Feedback Hub, so that is a great way to share your thoughts on how to better serve you as a customer.

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on detailed results you post back I will have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.