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.

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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
    2024-01-17T18:21:01+00:00

    I know this is an older post, but it has just recently started to happen on my computer. I don't even have a "show all folders" option to uncheck. When I click on View, choices are Tiles, Content, Details Pane, Preview pane, and Show. I go into show and my options are Navigation pane, Compact view, Item check boxes, File name Extension, and Hidden items.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-17T19:27:01+00:00

    Tried the restore default, but no luck. Along that line though, I next clicked reset folders and that restored all privileges to being able to move items in my QA.

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  4. 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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  5. Anonymous
    2024-01-31T19:01:31+00:00

    Same problem frustrated me as well, but I found somewhere a hint which I tried, and within seconds had solved the issue.
    Open Folder options in File Explorer, go to Tab "View", scroll down to object group "Navigation pane".
    There: uncheck the box "Show all folders"
    That's all it takes, now I am fully able to arrange/rearrange/order my Qick Access objects. Still haven't found any negative bi-effects of it.

    Thanks so much for coming up with the definitive solution! Works like a charm. I would just add that you have to close File Explorer and then reopen it again after following your instructions. Problem really solved!

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