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
    2025-04-15T15:58:21+00:00

    It isn't working for me...show all folders was already turned off and it just keeps copying everything. So frustrating. Thanks, though, for sharing your tip.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-10T15:15:19+00:00

    I found an answer that worked for me. Try the following

    In Explorer, click on the

    • three dots on the top bar, ie "..."
    • then Options
    • then View
    • Scroll to the bottom to Advanced Setting
    • Under Navigation, only check boxes for Show Network and Show This PC. Keep others in Navigation unchecked

    When I did this, I was able to arrange all folder in Quick Access/Home as usual

    The issue was that I had the Show All Folders and Show all Libraries checked, for some reason that takes away the ability to rearrange folders in quick Access.

    Good luck!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-21T15:00:21+00:00

    RIGHT CLICK and drag the folder up and down. I have only found the manual way to do it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-18T19:14:01+00:00

    Wow. That worked. How stupid of Microsoft. They never cease to amaze me how convoluted they make things.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-12T20:19:28+00:00

    This actually works! You can even enable "Show all folders" after you rearrange the order of the Quick Access items. I have no clue why you can't rearrange the order when "Show all folders" is enabled.

    To be clear, click the "..." and the "Options" choice in File Explorer to bring up the Folder Options dialog.

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