Customize Places Bar in File Explorer Windows
Yes, you can customize the Places bar (the Quick Access list) in File Explorer on Windows 10 and Windows 11. This guide shows you exactly how to add, remove, and reorder items in that left-hand navigation pane, plus how to restore the classic default view if you prefer it.
What Is the Places Bar?
The Places bar is the vertical list of shortcuts at the top of the left pane in File Explorer. In Windows 10 it’s called Quick Access; in Windows 11 it’s called Home. It shows folders like Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, and any folders you’ve pinned. The bar gives you one-click access to frequently used locations without navigating through the full folder tree.
In Windows 10, Quick Access also shows “Frequent folders� and “Recent files� by default. In Windows 11, the default Home view shows pinned folders and recent files, but the left pane itself is the Places bar. Both versions let you pin any folder to the top of the list, and both let you remove the default items.
How to Add a Folder to the Places Bar
Adding a folder is straightforward in both Windows 10 and 11. The folder appears at the top of the navigation pane, above the regular folder tree.
- Open File Explorer.
- Navigate to the folder you want to pin.
- Right-click the folder in the navigation pane or in the main window.
- Select Pin to Quick Access (Windows 10) or Pin to Home (Windows 11).
You can also drag a folder from the main window and drop it onto the “Quick Access� or “Home� heading in the left pane. The folder appears immediately and stays there until you unpin it.
How to Remove or Reorder Items
Removing an item is just as easy. Right-click the shortcut in the Places bar and choose Unpin from Quick Access or Unpin from Home. This only removes the shortcut; the original folder stays on your drive.
To reorder, simply drag a pinned item up or down in the list. In Windows 10, you can drag items within the Quick Access section. In Windows 11, you can also drag pinned items to reorder them. The change is saved immediately.
How to Show or Hide the Places Bar
If you prefer a cleaner view, you can hide the entire Places bar. In Windows 10:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click the View tab on the ribbon.
- In the Navigation pane menu, uncheck Quick Access.
In Windows 11, the option is in the same View menu, but the label is Home. Uncheck it to hide the Home section. You can re-enable it the same way.
How to Restore the Default Places Bar
If you’ve removed all the default folders and want them back, you can reset the Places bar to its original state. In Windows 10, open File Explorer, go to the View tab, click Options (or Change folder and search options), and in the General tab, under Privacy, click Clear to remove the history of recent files and frequent folders. That doesn’t restore the default pins, though.
To restore the default pins (Desktop, Downloads, Documents, etc.), you can manually re-pin them by navigating to each folder and using “Pin to Quick Access.� Alternatively, you can reset File Explorer’s settings entirely by deleting the Quick Access entries in the registry, but that’s a more advanced step. A simpler method is to use the “Restore Defaults� button in Folder Options – it resets the view settings but not the Quick Access list itself.
In Windows 11, the default Home view includes Desktop, Downloads, Documents, and Pictures. You can re-pin them manually the same way.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common issue is that the Places bar doesn’t appear at all. This usually happens if you’ve hidden it via the View menu. Another is that pinned folders disappear after a reboot – this can happen if the folder is on a removable drive that isn’t connected at startup. The shortcut stays, but the folder may not be accessible until the drive is reconnected.
Another misconception is that “Quick Access� and “Frequent folders� are the same thing. They aren’t. Frequent folders are automatically shown based on your usage; Quick Access pins are manual. You can turn off Frequent folders in Folder Options under the General tab, but that doesn’t affect your pinned items.
Some users think that deleting a pinned folder from the Places bar deletes the actual folder. It does not. Unpinning only removes the shortcut.
Comparison: Windows 10 vs Windows 11
The core functionality is the same, but the naming and default behavior differ. Windows 10 calls it Quick Access and shows both frequent folders and recent files by default. Windows 11 calls it Home and shows pinned folders plus recent files, but the left pane is more compact. Windows 11 also adds a “Gallery� section in the navigation pane that shows recent photos, which you can’t disable separately from the Home section.
In Windows 11, the “Pin to Home� option appears when you right-click a folder in the navigation pane. In Windows 10, it’s “Pin to Quick Access.� Both versions support drag-and-drop pinning.
Alternatives to the Places Bar
If the Places bar isn’t enough, you can use other navigation aids:
- Frequent folders (Windows 10) – automatically shows folders you use often.
- Libraries – a legacy feature that groups folders (Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos) into a single view.
- This PC – shows all drives and default folders in a tree view.
- Third-party file managers – like Directory Opus or XYplorer, which offer highly customizable panes.
For most users, the built-in Places bar is sufficient. It’s simple, fast, and doesn’t require extra software.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a network drive to the Places bar?
Map the network drive first (right-click This PC > Map network drive). Once mapped, it appears under “This PC� in the navigation pane. You can then right-click the mapped drive and select “Pin to Quick Access� (Windows 10) or “Pin to Home� (Windows 11).
Why is my Places bar empty?
If you’ve hidden it, re-enable it via the View menu. If it’s visible but empty, you may have unpinned all items and turned off frequent folders. Go to Folder Options > General and check “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access� (Windows 10) or “Show recent files� (Windows 11).
Can I add a file to the Places bar?
No, the Places bar is for folders only. You can pin files to the “Recent files� section in Windows 10, but that’s not the same as the navigation pane. In Windows 11, recent files appear under Home, but you can’t pin individual files to the left pane.
Does pinning a folder slow down File Explorer?
No. Pinned shortcuts are just links; they don’t affect performance. However, if you pin a folder that’s on a slow network drive, File Explorer might take a moment to refresh its contents when you click it.
How do I reset the Places bar to default in Windows 11?
There’s no one-click reset. You can manually unpin all items and then re-pin the defaults (Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures). To clear recent files, go to Folder Options > General > Privacy and click “Clear.�
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