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

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

191 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-15T17:14:47+00:00

    I unchecked the box, re-ordered pinned folders, then checked the box and the reorder stayed where I set them.

    I do agree, that update last March changed a lot of how explorer looks and works.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-13T14:33:25+00:00

    I had to do the following:

    Click on the "..." and select Options (Since there is a "View" option next to the "..." it could be confusing for some.

    Once Options is open, click on the "View" tab

    Scroll all the way to the bottom and you should see the "Show all folders" options.

    My organization just upgraded me to Windows 11. I have used it on my home computer for a while. I am curious to see if my setting gets reversed after I log back in tomorrow.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T22:23:02+00:00

    How do you "arrange/rearrange/order your Quick Access? There is no Name or Title or Header field for QA (to right click and sort for example) so how do you sort for example? Pardon my inability to understand.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  5. Anonymous
    2023-06-05T11:19:56+00:00

    Thanks, Mats, this really helped. No connection though between Quick access rearrangement and Navigation pane setting (don't!) Show all folders, but hey, MS programmers are not easy to understand gals and guys, so we tend to adjust to whatever they code, not the other way around. I am sure there must be some strange geek logic behind it, so we ordinary users loose time to figure their complicated minds out.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments