How to reorder items in Quick access (File explorer, Windows 11)

Anonymous
2022-12-14T15:33:05+00:00

I think my File Explorer (Windows 11) is possessed by an evil creature that enjoys rattling me. Every once in a while it decides to substitute my pinned folders with some random and mostly useless ones.

Today I decided to retry and re-organize that section of File explorer.

I am not able to sort the items I put in Quick Access. Folders are in a completely random order, not alphabetical, not based on usage. It is random.

When I try and move a folder, File Explorer put it back where it was.

This is an incredibly bad application. I fail in understanding how Microsoft is not able to provide a simple and functional File Explorer. I use also a Mac OS system and cannot belive how much better their simple Finder is. At least it enables users to organize their pinned locations as they like.

Is there anyone with a suggestion?

By the way. Besides the name, what do you think the difference between "Quick access" and "Favorites" is?

For the experts: reinstalling Windows is not an option.

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-02T14:14:57+00:00

    Hi, Anita. Surprisingly, your advice works 😊, sometimes 😲

    Sometimes it doesn't 😒:

    Image

    On the screenshot above I am trying to move the “t” folder higher, but Explorer refuses the move (note ∅ mark).

    I clicked here and there for a while, and … — wow, Explorer admitted the very same move and “t” folder got reordered!

    I didn't notice this possibility earlier, because it works not always.

    I was unable to find out, what sequence of clicks makes Explorer benevolent to QA reordering.

    Nevertheless, your finding is a big relief for me and, maybe, others.

    The task has been made at least doable, maybe with obstacles.

    Thank you very much for your advice ❤️, and especially for the demonstration of the solution with a screenshot. Without screenshot your advice, likely, would be not reproducible.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-19T17:33:47+00:00

    And, if I start dragging, find no solid line, and want to put the item back where it was, it creates a copy of itself underneath the original item!

    Just press the ESC key before releasing the mouse button, and the drag and drop function will be cancelled.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-15T10:07:53+00:00

    Thanks, whilst this works and allows drag and sort, it disables other functionality. Wha MS needs to do is sort out the issue of the drag function being not orking when "Show all folders" is enabled - there is simply NO reason why this should be the case.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-05T20:47:34+00:00

    Have tried all the suggestions, but on my new fully updated PC I can drag quick access items, but only to copy. Never get a solid line to drop between items.

    And, if I start dragging, find no solid line, and want to put the item back where it was, it creates a copy of itself underneath the original item!

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  5. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-01-17T20:52:20+00:00

    I don't even have a "show all folders" option to uncheck.

    Right-click the white space at the bottom of the Navigation pane to get this pop-up menu:

    Or go to ⋯, Options, View tab, then scroll down:

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