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. Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2024-07-03T13:48:45+00:00

    My idea did not work neither yours, keep posting if you find a fix for this.

    For now, I am told i need a new computer.

    By "new computer" I hope they meant reinstall Windows. This is not a hardware problem.

    I suggest seeing if the issue is specific to the new Windows 11 Explorer. Try the old Windows 10 Explorer by opening the Control Panel and clicking the up arrow icon a couple of times. Then see if you can arrange things as you like there.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-03T12:56:11+00:00

    My idea did not work neither yours, keep posting if you find a fix for this.

    For now, I am told i need a new computer.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-11T20:25:53+00:00

    UPDATE to: SORTING FILE EXPLORER’s “Quick Access” column.

    My earlier suggestion seemingly stopped working so I re-evaluated, and hopefully this will be a longer holding and real fix :::

    Right Click on “Quick Access” tab, click “Options”, click “View” tab, then scroll down and under Navigation click “Expand to open Folder” be sure the check boxes are all blank. Now, right click on “Quick Access” again, and click “Open in new window”!!! That should do it, and I am a total novice, only done by trial and error.

    My problem was it was not sequencing my Quick Access column by the numbers, such as:::

    24-8077

    24-8078

    24-8079

    24-8080

    Hoping it continues to work!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-04T02:42:16+00:00

    untick everything you can under that menu. works for me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-06-03T20:47:42+00:00

    For me I think it was the 'Expand to open folder' button I had to untick.

    THX David,

    I started with File, Options, View, then under Navigation, i clicked on Expand to open Folder and it worked!!! been aggravating me a couple of weeks now, may help my blood pressure?

    Again Thx!!! and God Bless You and yours, First John 2:6

    PS - if u ever figure out what caused it let us know, just curious. Paul Glenn

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