Searching for that Microsoft Word document you created the other day or the Excel spreadsheets folder you opened last week? You can retrieve them in File Explorer by accessing the right location and sorting your files and folders by modified date. But there’s an easier way in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 called Quick Access.
Simply launch File Explorer, and the Quick Access section appears in the left sidebar. Here, you’ll see frequently used folders and recently used files. By default, the Quick Access section is always in this location, so you can jump to the top to view it. Depending on how many folders and files you’ve worked with lately, chances are good you will find what you seek.
You should come across your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures folders by default. Any files you have used over the past couple of days, if not longer, should also be listed here. Windows displays up to 20 frequently used folders and up to 20 most recently used files. As you work with more folders and files, the older ones get bumped in favor of the more recent ones.
To change what appears in this section, you can manually add or remove folders. In Windows 10, right-click on a folder you wish to add to Quick Access. From the pop-up menu, click Pin to Quick access, and that folder now appears in the list of those most frequently used. In Windows 11, right-click on a folder and select Show more options > Pin to Quick access.
To remove a folder from Quick Access, right-click on the item. From the pop-up menu, click Unpin from Quick access, and the folder is zapped off the list.
What about your favorite files? While the sidebar only shows folders, click Quick access to see individual recent files. If you wish to remove a file from Quick Access, right-click on the file, and click the Remove from Quick access command from the pop-up menu.
Keep in mind that Quick Access is just a shortcut section that links to folders and files stored elsewhere. Any items you remove from Quick Access will remain intact in their original location.
If you don’t like the Quick Access section, you can remove it. In Windows 10 File Explorer, click the View tab at the top to display the View ribbon. From there, click the Options button. Windows 11 users should click the ellipsis icon in File Explorer, then select Options.
A small Folder Options pop-up window will open. From the General tab, you should see that the Open File Explorer to: drop-down menu is set to Quick access. Click the menu and change the entry to This PC, then click OK. The Quick Access section is still around, but now each time you launch File Explorer, you’ll see your This PC section at the top instead.
