Pinning Folders in Quick Access in Windows 11: A Complete Guide

If you use Windows 11 On a daily basis, having your key folders just a click away in File Explorer saves you time and headaches. The Quick Access area, which was renamed Home in version 22H2, concentrates access to folders, recent files, and favorite items so that everything is at hand without having to navigate through the directory tree.

In this guide, you'll learn how to pin folders to Quick Access in Explorer, how to distinguish what's truly pinned from what's just recent or frequent, how to hide those recent folders if they bother you, and how to adjust Explorer's home page. Additionally, you'll find an alternative method to pin folders to the taskbar with a simple shortcut using explorer.exe, all explained in detail and with practical tips that work in Windows 11 Pro (both public and Insider versions).

What is Quick Access in Windows 11 and why you should use it?

Quick Access is the home view in File Explorer in Windows 11 designed to show what you use most and what you've recently opened. Starting with version 22H2, Microsoft renamed this view to Home, but its purpose remains the same: centralizing your priority items.

One of its strong points is that it integrates your Office.com documents, showing recent and favorite files from your account. Microsoft 365. This allows you to resume tasks without first opening them. apps from Office or the browser.

Additionally, searching from this view is agile and covers both your computer and the cloud, which effectively allows you to locate content faster than browsing. This team folder by folder. It's ideal if you combine local files with OneDrive or other connected services.

However, if you prefer to always start on This PC, you can change that in Explorer options whenever you want. Below you'll see the exact setting for switching between Start and This PC based on your workflow.

Pin a folder to Quick Access step by step

The straightforward method for pinning a folder to Quick Access is straightforward and works with any directory you have permissions to. This is the typical procedure for the Documents folder, but it applies equally to other locations.

1. Open File Explorer from the taskbar or with the Win+E combination.
2. Navigate to the folder you are interested in, for example C:\Users\your_user\Documents.
3. Right-click on the folder and choose Pin to Quick Access in the context menu.
4. Check that it appears in the Quick Access section from the left pane of the Explorer; it will be pinned to the top for immediate access.

When an item is truly pinned, you'll see the pin icon, and if you right-click again, you'll have the option to Unpin from Quick Access. That's a sign that it's not a folder that's shown just because it's frequent or recent.

If at any point you no longer need it pinned, unpinning it is just as simple: right-click the folder in Quick Access and select Unpin from Quick Access. The folder will still exist in your path, it will just no longer be pinned to the top.

Pinned vs. Recent: Control what appears in Quick Access

Not everything you see in Quick Access is set on purpose, and this detail can be confusing. Windows also displays frequently used folders and recently opened files for convenience.

Pinned folders show the pin and right-click to see Unpin from Quick Access, while recently used folders don't have a pin and don't offer that option. The latter depend on your usage history.

If you prefer Quick Access to only show what you choose to pin, you can disable the display of recent and frequently used items in Browser Options. With that, the section will be cleared of automatic suggestions.

1. Open File Explorer and click on See more (the three dots) and then on Options.
2. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab to access the display settings.
3. Uncheck the options to show recently used files and frequently used folders in Quick Access to hide those automatic elements.
4. Apply the changes and accept so that they are immediately reflected in the Quick Access view.

If you notice any strange behavior, you can also clear your Explorer history from that same Options window, which sometimes fixes listings that aren't updating properly. Then, re-pin only what you want to have at hand.

Open Explorer in Start or This PC

By default, Windows 11 opens Explorer in Quick Access view, called Start in 22H2, because it's the most useful for getting back to work and moving quickly. Still, some people prefer to go into This PC to see drives and root paths.

You can change your landing page in your browser in seconds and return to the previous view whenever it suits you. The setting is in the general options section.

1. Open Explorer and click See more (three dots icon) and then Options.
2. On the General tab, look for the Open File Explorer in option. and choose Start or This PC as you prefer.
3. Click Apply and OK to save the change and test it by opening a new Explorer window.

If you're on a different build, the names may vary slightly, but the behavior is the same: Home is the same as the old Quick Access. If you change your mind, go back to the selector and toggle again.

Alternative method: Pin a folder to the taskbar with a shortcut

If, in addition to having a folder in Quick Access, you want to launch it from the taskbar, there's a simple trick: create a shortcut that calls explorer.exe with a specific parameter. You don't need third-party programs and the process is quick.

The idea is to use Explorer's /select switch to point to the desired path and then pin that shortcut to the taskbar. It is important to respect the syntax, including the comma after select.

1. On the Desktop, create a new shortcut with the Windows wizard.
2. In the element location, type for example: explorer.exe /select, C:\Wikis (set C:\Wikis to the actual path you want to set).
3. Assign a name to the shortcut to your liking to easily identify the folder.
4. Optional: Change the icon from Properties > Change Icon to use one of the icons included in Windows or any other you prefer.
5. Right-click on the shortcut and choose Show more options and then Pin to taskbar to fix it permanently.

After pinning it, you'll see the icon in the taskbar, and clicking it will open Explorer with the selected folder instantly. It's a clean way to keep your key destinations always visible, beyond Quick Access.

Please note that this behavior may change with future changes to Windows 11., so while it works on public Pro editions and Insider builds today, it could be broken in future updates.

If you notice that the Pin to Quick Access option is missing or unresponsive, try resetting your Explorer views from Folder Options, View tab, using the Reset Folders button, and applying the changes. Sometimes a reset This type returns the context menu to normal and fixes lists that are not updating.

With all of the above you can leave Quick Access exactly as it suits you, pinning only the folders that matter, hiding what you don't want to see and, if you need it, also bringing your favorite routes to the taskbar to have them within reach in one clickIt's a simple improvement that greatly streamlines your daily work and adapts whether you work locally or access content from the cloud.