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Pin and Unpin Folders in Windows 11 File Explorer

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Pin and Unpin Folders in Windows 11 File Explorer

This guide shows you how to pin folders to the Quick access section in Windows 11 File Explorer, so your most-used locations are always one click away, and how to remove them when you no longer need them. You’ll learn three different methods for pinning and two for unpinning, plus what to do when the option isn’t available.

What You’ll Need

  • A PC running Windows 11 (any recent version, including 22H2 and 23H2)
  • An account with permission to modify File Explorer settings (standard user accounts work fine)
  • The folder you want to pin must be accessible from your PC (local drive, network drive, or removable drive)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Pin from the Folder’s Right-Click Menu

  1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E or clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.
  2. Navigate to the folder you want to pin. It can be on your Desktop, in This PC, or anywhere else in the navigation pane.
  3. Right-click on the folder.
  4. In the context menu, look for the option “Pin to Quick access”. Click it.
  5. The folder now appears under the Quick access section in the left navigation pane. You can click and drag it to reorder it within that list.

Method 2: Pin from the Folder’s Properties

  1. Right-click the folder you want to pin.
  2. Select Properties from the bottom of the context menu.
  3. Go to the General tab.
  4. In the Attributes section, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Quick access” (sometimes shown as “Show in Quick access”).
  5. Check that box, then click OK or Apply.
  6. The folder is now pinned. This method is especially useful if the right-click menu doesn’t show the pin option.

Method 3: Pin from the Navigation Pane

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. In the left navigation pane, locate the folder under This PC or another section. You can also browse to it in the main pane.
  3. Drag the folder directly onto the Quick access heading in the navigation pane.
  4. Release the mouse button when you see the “Quick access” heading highlight. The folder is now pinned.

How to Unpin a Folder

  1. In File Explorer, go to the Quick access section in the left navigation pane.
  2. Right-click the folder you want to remove.
  3. Select “Unpin from Quick access” from the context menu.
  4. The folder disappears from Quick access immediately. This does not delete the folder itself—it only removes the shortcut.

Alternative Unpin: Using the Properties Window

  1. Right-click the pinned folder in Quick access.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. On the General tab, uncheck the “Quick access” checkbox.
  4. Click OK. The folder is unpinned.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing Pin to Quick access with Pin to Start: The right-click menu also has “Pin to Start” which creates a tile on the Start menu, not in File Explorer. Make sure you choose the Quick access option.
  • Dragging to the wrong spot: When dragging, you must drop the folder directly on the “Quick access” text or the area right below it. Dropping it on another folder will move the folder into that location instead of pinning it.
  • Expecting the pin to be permanent: If you clear File Explorer history or use a cleanup tool, pinned items may be removed. They are stored in the system’s Quick access list, not as separate files.
  • Pinning a file instead of a folder: You can pin files too, but the option is called “Pin to Quick access” for both. If you pin a file, it appears in Quick access as a file, not a folder.

Tips

  • Organize your pins: You can drag pinned items up or down in the Quick access list to put the most-used ones at the top.
  • Pin network locations: You can pin a network drive or a shared folder the same way. Just navigate to it first, then right-click and pin.
  • Use the keyboard: After right-clicking a folder, press P on the keyboard if the menu is open—this often selects “Pin to Quick access” directly (the underlined letter may vary, but it’s usually P).
  • Remove all pins at once: Right-click the “Quick access” heading itself and choose “Unpin all items from Quick access” to clear the list.
  • Show or hide Quick access: If Quick access disappears from the navigation pane, go to View > Navigation pane and ensure “Quick access” is checked.

Troubleshooting

“Pin to Quick access” is grayed out or missing

  • Try the Properties method (Method 2) instead—it often works when the context menu option is unavailable.
  • Make sure the folder is not already pinned. If it is, the option changes to “Unpin from Quick access.”
  • Check if your organization’s Group Policy has disabled Quick access. If you’re on a managed PC, you may not be able to pin folders.

Pinned folder disappears after restart

  • This can happen if File Explorer history is cleared automatically. Go to Folder Options (View tab > Options) and under the General tab, ensure “Show recently used files in Quick access” is checked—this doesn’t directly affect pins, but it’s related.
  • If you’re using a cleaning tool like CCleaner, exclude File Explorer history from cleaning.

Quick access section is not visible

  • Open File Explorer, click the View menu, then Navigation pane, and make sure Quick access is checked.
  • If it’s still missing, you may have accidentally hidden it. Go to Folder Options > General and under “Open File Explorer to,” select “Quick access” instead of “This PC.”

Can’t pin a folder from a network location

  • Some network shares may not allow pinning due to permissions. Try mapping the network drive to a letter first (right-click This PC > Map network drive), then pin the mapped drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pinning a folder move the folder itself?

No. Pinning only creates a shortcut in Quick access. The original folder stays exactly where it is.

Can I pin a file to Quick access?

Yes. Right-click any file and choose “Pin to Quick access.” It will appear in the Quick access list along with folders.

How do I remove a folder from Quick access without unpinning it?

You can’t—removing it from Quick access is the same as unpinning. However, you can hide it from the “Recent files” section (if it’s a recently opened file) by right-clicking and selecting “Remove from Quick access” on the file itself.

Why does my pinned folder show a different icon?

Quick access shows a small pin icon next to pinned items. If the folder is also in your frequent folders list, it may show a clock icon instead. To keep it as a permanent pin, right-click and choose “Pin to Quick access” again.

Can I pin a folder to Quick access from the command line?

Yes, but it requires a registry edit. It’s simpler to use the graphical methods. If you’re comfortable with the registry, you can add the folder path under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\QuickAccess, but this is not recommended for most users.

Does unpinning delete the folder?

No. Unpinning only removes the shortcut from Quick access. The folder and its contents remain untouched.

Related

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