What Happened to Libraries in Windows 11

Snookred 31 Reputation points
2025-12-03T19:36:37.0666667+00:00

Windows 11 is new to me but I've now been using Windows for 30+ years. A feature I've used for quite some time now is something that has been called "Libraries" in the past. I need to relocate the actual folders referenced by libraries such as "Documents". On Windows 10 this could be done by selecting "Properties" from the the right click drop down menu displayed under "Libraries" within the File Manager as shown by following image:

LibraryPropertiesWin10

The File Manager on my Windows 11 computer makes no mention of "Libraries". There is an item called "Documents" which has traditionally been included in libraries. However, there is an ICON that looks like a pin associated with it and one of the options displayed in the right-click drop down menu says "Unpin from Quick access". This suggests that such items displayed in File Manager either are or are similar to what was labeled as "Quick Access" in the Windows 10 File Manager but that is not the same thing as a "Library" in Windows 10.

Question is how to setup Windows 11 file systems in the same manner as done on Windows 10 using "Libraries"?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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Anonymous
2025-12-03T20:10:03.79+00:00

Hi, I get why this feels a bit confusing after years of using Libraries.

The root cause is that Windows 11 still supports Libraries, but they’re hidden by default, and what you’re seeing now, like Documents with a pin icon, is part of Quick Access, which only shows shortcuts, not the combined folder view that Libraries provide.

To bring Libraries back, open File Explorer, click the three-dot menu, go to Options, then under Navigation pane check “Show libraries.”

Once they appear, you can right-click a library like Documents, choose Properties, and add or remove folder locations just like before.

Quick question, are you trying to keep the same setup as Windows 10 with multiple folders under one library, or just move the default Documents folder to a new location?

That will help me guide you better.

Regards,
Aron

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  1. Snookred 31 Reputation points
    2025-12-04T03:15:38.8566667+00:00

    Yes that does it. Many thanks!

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