The Ultimate Guide to Restoring the Quick Access Menu in Windows 11
Lost your Quick Access menu in Windows 11? Don't worry! Easily restore it and retrieve your pinned items with these simple steps Set File Explorer to open to Home, re-pin your items, enable Recent Files, clear File Explorer history, and fix any corrupted files Get back on track effortlessly!
To bring back File Explorer's Quick Access menu in Windows 11:
Open File Explorer.
Click the three-dot icon at the top-right of the window.
Select "Options."
Click the "General" tab.
Change the "Open File Explorer To" option to "Home."
Click on the "OK" button and restart File Explorer.
First, Set File Explorer to Open to Home
When you don’t see your favorite Quick Access menu in File Explorer’s left sidebar, make the file manager launch to the “Home” section to bring that menu back.
To do that, open a File Explorer window using Windows+E. At the top of the window, click the three dots and choose “Options.”
In the "Folder Options" window, click on the "General" tab located at the top. Then, choose "Home" from the "Open File Explorer To" drop-down menu.
To save your modifications, click on "Apply" and then "OK" at the bottom.
Close and reopen File Explorer, and you’ll see the Quick Access menu.
Re-Pin Your Items to Quick Access
If some items are missing from the Quick Access menu, re-pin those items to bring them back in the menu.
To add an item to Quick Access, first, find that item in a File Explorer window. Then, right-click that item and choose “Pin to Quick Access.”
Windows will immediately add that item to your Quick Access menu, and you’re all set.
Enable the Recent Files Option in File Explorer
To ensure your recent files are visible in Quick Access, enable the corresponding option in your File Explorer settings. Simply open File Explorer, click on the three dots, and select "Options."
On the “Folder Options” window, in the “General” tab, toggle on the “Show Recently Used Files” option.
Then, at the bottom, click “Apply” followed by “OK.”
File Explorer now displays your recent files in Quick Access, letting you quickly get back to them.
Clear Your File Explorer History
If you find that the Quick Access menu is missing in File Explorer, despite being enabled, it may be due to a small error. To potentially resolve this problem, try clearing your file manager history.
To achieve this, navigate to File Explorer, select the three dots icon, and opt for “Options.” In the “Folder Options” window, access the “General” tab. Subsequently, locate the option “Clear File Explorer History” and choose “Clear” beside it.
File Explorer will wipe your history, and your Quick Access menu should be back.
Fix Windows’ Corrupted Files
Corrupted operating system files in Windows 11 may lead to malfunctions in various PC features. If Quick Access does not appear in File Explorer, it could be due to problematic system files. To address this issue, utilize Windows' built-in SFC (System File Checker) tool. This tool will help identify and resolve any damaged system files on your computer.
To do that, open the “Start” menu, find “Command Prompt”, and select “Run as Administrator.” In the “User Account Control” prompt, choose “Yes.”
Open Command Prompt and enter the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. Press Enter to initiate the command, which will prompt Windows Update to download the necessary files for repairing your faulty files.
When your PC has downloaded the required content, run the following command to start finding and fixing broken files on your system:
sfc /scannow
Once your corrupted files have been repaired, simply restart your PC to witness the Quick Access menu reappear in your File Explorer utility. With Quick Access successfully restored, take the opportunity to explore methods for removing check boxes in File Explorer or discover the plethora of impressive features available in File Explorer.
