Pinned items are stored in:
| Setting | Effect | |---------|--------| | | Choose between "Home" (Quick Access) or "This PC" | | Show recently used files in Quick Access | If unchecked, the "Frequent files" section disappears entirely | | Show frequently used folders in Quick Access | If unchecked, automatic folder tracking stops (only pinned folders remain) | | Clear File Explorer history | Clears all tracked frequent folders/files (does not affect pinned items) | | Number of recent items to display | Default is 20; you can set 1–100 (affects both files and folders) |
Windows Quick Access is a feature introduced in Windows 10 (replacing "Favorites" from Windows 8 and earlier) that serves as the default landing page for File Explorer. It is designed to provide users with rapid navigation to frequently used files and manually pinned folders. By leveraging usage history and user customization, Quick Access streamlines workflow and reduces the time spent navigating directory structures.
| Limitation | Workaround | |------------|-------------| | Cannot pin individual files | Use or Start Menu pins for files | | Cannot create sub-lists or groups | Use Libraries or Desktop folders for organizational structure | | Frequent folders list resets after history clear | No workaround; it's by design | | No cloud sync across devices (unlike browser bookmarks) | Use OneDrive and pin OneDrive folders; the pins themselves don't roam |
The following are some tips and tricks for using Windows Quick Access:
