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
    2023-08-10T09:42:20+00:00

    Yes! This worked for me, too. I was having the same annoying issue of not being able to rearrange items in Quick Access.

    I'll add one note that may be helpful: once you've unclicked Show All Folders, the Navigation Pane displays differently, which may be slightly annoying, too.

    However, I noticed that if you click the Show All Folders option after you've rearranged the items in Quick Access, the Navigation Pane looks the same as before with the advantage of the items being arranged as desired!

    So rearranging is possible, albeit more tedious now.

    Not sure why this was done by MS, but I'm guessing that it's an oversight.

    Cheers to all!

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  2. 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.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-15T17:53:13+00:00

    OK, it's broken again after the latest update. The usual workarounds no longer work

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-16T01:57:14+00:00

    Ha! not only didn't work, but cleaned out my pinned folders! LOL because W11 just gets worse and worse!

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-17T15:55:19+00:00

    YAAYYYY it worked! Thank you!

    I will add a little additional detail as I had to achieve your solution by doing the following:

    • In Folder Finder next to View tab on top bar - go to 3 dots.
    • Go to Options at very bottom.
    • Click on View Tab
    • Scroll to bottom under Navigation Pane
    • Uncheck Show All Folders.

    :)

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