Restore missing Quick Access to Windows 11

Edmund LeRoy 50

Hello, all:

This problem of a missing Quick Access in Windows 11 was addressed this past June 2025 by another user, who was far more sophisticated in technology than I. Since it migrated from Microsoft Answers, it wasn't possible to leave a response there. The answer from a volunteer suggested three different possible fixes, one of which worked for the user: going to the Registry and deleting the BagMRU and Bags keys. I tried that with no result. Another was opening File Explorer and going to %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations and to %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations, emptying both folders and restarting File Explorer. I tried that with no result. The third fix was far beyond my capability, so I didn't try it.

So, here I am without Quick Access, although right-clicking on a folder or document allows me to pin it there. It's a puzzlement why Microsoft doesn't fix this instead of leaving it to users to flounder around trying to fix it. If others have had success restoring Quick Access, I will certainly appreciate suggestions.

Ed LeRoy

L D 0 Reputation points

2025-07-30T04:29:32.0366667+00:00

The Answer is Much simpler than all this technical stuff. It happened to me also. The pinned quick access items are located under the Home tab on the left side. it you open the desktop one at the very top it will drop down everything and you cant see the pins. first drop the desktop tab the scroll down and open the Home tab and your pins and commonly used files will be showing there.
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-07-30T14:28:58.7733333+00:00

Thank you for your response. What you're suggesting seems to be "Recent" documents, not "Quick Access" which is something else.
Ed Patterson 5 Reputation points

2026-02-03T13:16:41.4266667+00:00

I tried Everything recommended in multiple web pages. The answer for me was simple. In Explorer Options "..." UNCHECK the "Show recommended section" selection. I think the Quick Access folders show up Immediately; if not close Explorer and restart Explorer.

16 answers

DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-15T13:31:42.74+00:00

Glad to help!
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-08-15T17:51:44.43+00:00

I discovered serendipitously a solution to the missing Quick Access from a YouTube video. Open File Explorer and click the three dots. Click Options. In the pop-up menu under Privacy, unclick "Show recommended section." That's it. Quick Access appeared.

Stewart Tansley 0 Reputation points

2025-10-04T18:32:01.7333333+00:00

I ended up here after a long search for the related problem when trying to add a folder to Quick Access in Windows 11 24H2, but receiving the error message: "Docfile Has Been Corrupted". Thanks to Edmund's above comment, I was able to solve it finally:

Same steps to get to Privacy in Folder Options.

Uncheck all.

Clear - Apply - Ok.

Close all Explorer windows.

Open up a new Explorer window and go back to Privacy in Folder Options again.

Check all (if that is what you want).

Apply - Ok.

This FINALLY worked for me. It seems like this cleared the corrupt "Docfile". I didn't need to restart, but that can always help. You may also need to force the Privacy settings to "toggle" on or off, depending on what they were originally set to. In my case, they were all ON. So all OFF, then all ON worked for me.

Ekparian, Richard (Cunard) 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T19:10:04.62+00:00

Edmunds method is correct and should be marked as such.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-14T17:56:01.41+00:00

If you open a file in some app like Word, Excel... etc. and then close it, is it automatically added to the recent section?
Was this answer helpful?
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-07-14T17:59:56.6733333+00:00

Yes, that appears to be the case. If I could make a folder appear there, instead of just a document, I could use that as a work-around.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-14T17:45:51.2233333+00:00

If you restart your PC after that process, then right click a couple of your files and user folders like the Documents, Pictures and Videos folders and select 'Pin to Quick Access', are they added back to the Home section?
Was this answer helpful?
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-07-14T17:53:46.0166667+00:00

I can right-click a folder and then "Pin to Quick Access," but that's it. Nothing changes that I can see. I'm not sure what "added back to the Home section" means. If I click "Home," I see "Recent," "Favorites," and "Shared" buttons, and that's all. Usually, Home will have a down-arrow, but clicking it does nothing; it just disappears.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-14T15:14:24.95+00:00

In that case, please perform this process.

Click your Start Button, then just type cmd and on the resulting menu, right click Command Prompt and select 'Run as Administrator'

Paste this command into Command Prompt and press Enter:

del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent*

Paste this command into Command Prompt and press Enter:

del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations*

Paste this command into Command Prompt and press Enter:

del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations*

Then, close Command Prompt and restart (not shut down) your PC.
Was this answer helpful?
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-07-14T17:43:13.31+00:00

Alas, there's no change after this procedure. Maybe at a later date, it will be resolved. I think you were one who was aiding me in installing Windows 11 a couple of weeks ago. I so appreciated your tenacity, but Microsoft seemed determined not to cooperate. No matter what was done, it kept failing. Then, just this past weekend, I tried again just to see what would happen, and boom! it installed. What was different? I'll never know. So, Quick Access, too, will likely return at some point.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
DaveM121 880.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-14T14:18:13.1566667+00:00

Open File Explorer.

At the top, click the 3 dots and select Options.

Click the Restore Defaults button on the General tab.

Select the View tab.

Click the Restore Defaults button on that tab, then click the Reset Folders button.

Apply those settings, close File Explorer and restart (not shut down) your PC and check if that resolves the problem.
Was this answer helpful?
Edmund LeRoy 50 Reputation points

2025-07-14T15:00:14.4966667+00:00

Thanks. I tried the suggestion, but that had no effect. However, the down arrows have now disappeared from the menu. I've got to figure out how to get them back.

Ed Patterson 5 Reputation points

2026-02-03T13:17:28.92+00:00

I tried Everything recommended in multiple web pages. The answer for me was simple. In Explorer Options "..." UNCHECK the "Show recommended section" selection. I think the Quick Access folders show up Immediately; if not close Explorer and restart Explorer.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Share via

Restore missing Quick Access to Windows 11

16 answers

Your answer