Screenshots folder unavailable

Question

I am on the latest Canary build on my Lenovo IdeaPad C340-API.

When I try to access my Screenshots folder by opening File Explorer and clicking on the Screenshots link in the left hand column gives an error message saying the folder is unavailable. Right clicking on the File Explorer icon on the Taskbar and selecting Screenshots from the list works normally.

Answer 1

Dear Shaun Montgomery,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A.

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating and rather peculiar issue on your Lenovo IdeaPad.

You are using a Windows 11 Canary build, which is the most forward-looking and least stable of the Insider channels. It is highly probable that this is a bug within your specific build of the Canary channel that affects how File Explorer's sidebar links are resolved.

The fact that the Taskbar's "jump list" works correctly indicates that the folder itself exists and is in the correct location. The problem lies specifically with the shortcut link in the navigation pane of File Explorer.

You could try following these steps below to solve this issue:

1. Restart File Explorer:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
   • In the "Processes" tab, scroll down and find Windows Explorer.
   • Right-click on it and select Restart.
   • Your taskbar and desktop icons will briefly disappear and then reload. Check if the Screenshots link now works.
2. Restore the Default Folder Path:
   • Press the Windows + E to open File Explorer.
   • In the address bar at the top, type %userprofile%\Pictures and press Enter.
   • You should see your Screenshots folder there. Right-click on it and select Properties.
   • Go to the Location tab.
   • Click the Restore Default button. This should set the path to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots.
   • Click Apply and then OK. If prompted to move files, click Yes.
   • Check if the link in the File Explorer sidebar is now working.
3. Manually remove and re-add the Folder from Quick Access:
   • Open File Explorer.
   • Right-click the problematic "Screenshots" link in the left-hand column.
   • Select Unpin from Quick Access (the wording may vary slightly).
   • Navigate to your Screenshots folder again (via the %userprofile%\Pictures method described above).
   • Drag the Screenshots folder from the main window over to the Quick Access section in the sidebar to pin it again.
4. Check the Registry:
   • Press the Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   • In the address bar of the Registry Editor, copy and paste the following path and press Enter: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   • In the right-hand pane, look for an entry named {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}.
   • Double-click it. Its "Value data" should be %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Screenshots.
   • If it points to a different or incorrect location, change it to the correct path.
   • Click OK and restart your computer.
   Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.   

Since you're on a Canary Build, if none of these solutions work, it may be a bug you have to live with until the next build is released. You could check for updates or report the bug via Feedback Hub to report this problem to Microsoft. This helps them identify and fix bugs in the future.

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Best regards, 

Bryan Vu | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist