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
    2024-02-28T01:58:30+00:00

    Me too

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-28T01:59:53+00:00

    If that doesn't work, untick "Expand to Open Folder" - that worked for me

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T20:04:37+00:00

    When I try to reorder the pinned folders in Quick Access, I get a "Copy to..." hoverhelp. Right-click gives a menu but no mention of "move up/down", rearranging or reordering. I can't find any combination of keys plus left or right click that will allow me to simply move a quick access pinned folder up in the list.

    #insert<many_bad_words>

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T21:26:59+00:00

    I finally discovered that if I scroll down to my PINNED items, I CAN reorder the folders IN THE NAVIGATION PANE ONLY. Once reordered in the Nav pane, they will rewrite in correct order in the QA view (on the right when "Home" (Quick Access) is selected. I figured that I misinterpreted where to attempt the moving. Trying to move them in the actual QA panel (on the right) simply does not work.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-03-01T22:47:07+00:00

    You've got to love the responses that requires hours of your time to try something they know isn't going to help. Reinstalling windows is a horrible solution.

    The old file explorer was not flawed.

    I used to have an organized file cabinet where i could findanything i needed fast, but with windows 11. It feels like i emptied my file cabinet on the floor and proceeded to shuffle all the papers together.

    Hey Microsoft, do I really need to get a 3rd party app to do the most important core function in windows? Seems like the dumbest **** ever.

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    5 people found this answer helpful.
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