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
    2024-01-13T00:22:09+00:00

    Hmmm I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Both tricks work for me on Windows 10 and 11. The "works for me" dilemma happens far too often. Gotta hand it to these Microsoft folk for making things behave so consistently.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-11T22:51:50+00:00

    I found a trick so you can create custom links in QA with any name you want, …

    In a CMD window, go to a folder to store the custom link. Enter mklink /J Temp-C C:\Temp

    Looks like you have read the trick, but didn't try it.

    QA link will open in this folder, not c:\temp.

    Then I shall I maintain a map “QA link in special folder” <-> “real folder” right in my head. Oh, no, thank you.

    “Mats solution to reorder the items” does not work for me. "Show all folders" has always been being unchecked in my setup, QA item aren't reorderable.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-11T19:29:44+00:00

    Thank you!

    This was driving me nutz. So glad it was fixable!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-11T19:25:55+00:00

    Hi JJ,

    There may be a work-around . See my post below. Good luck!

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-01-11T19:23:26+00:00

    Mats solution worked for me. I unticked Show all folders, rearranged my items in the navigation pane, then re-ticked Show all folders. THANKS!!

    In response to Jar J Binks observation about renaming things in the Quick Access pane, you are correct. But I found a trick so you can create custom links in QA with any name you want, found here:

    https://www.thewindowsclub.com/rename-quick-access-folders-in-windows-10

    Unpin the QA item you want to rename.

    In a CMD window, go to a folder to store the custom link. Enter the command:

    mklink  /J  link-name  target-path

    Example: mklink /J Temp-C C:\Temp

    Then go back to File Explorer, find your custom link, right-click it and select Pin to Quick access!

    Follow up with Mats solution to reorder the items. It works for Windows 11, too.

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