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To add a folder, right-click it in File Explorer and select Pin to Quick access. To remove a pinned folder, right-click it in Home or the navigation pane and select Unpin from Quick access. These actions change the folder’s Quick access entry, not the folder or its contents. If the entire left pane is missing, turn it back on separately with View > Show > Navigation Pane.

Add an ordinary folder to the navigation pane

  1. Open File Explorer and browse to the folder you want to keep handy.
  2. Right-click the folder and select Pin to Quick access.

The folder will then be available from File Explorer Home and the navigation pane, as Microsoft describes in its File Explorer help.

Remove a folder you pinned

  1. In File Explorer Home or the navigation pane, right-click the pinned folder.
  2. Select Unpin from Quick access.

This removes the Quick access pin. It does not delete the folder or its files.

Restore a built-in Windows folder

Windows 11 version 22H2 and later place Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos in Quick access rather than under This PC by default. To pin one again after it has been unpinned:

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  1. Select Home in File Explorer’s left pane.
  2. Select the Up arrow beside the address bar to display the six known folders.
  3. Right-click or press and hold the folder, then select Pin to Quick access.

Microsoft documents this arrangement and restoration process in its File Explorer help for Windows 11 and Windows 10; the known-folder arrangement is identified as beginning with Windows 11 version 22H2.

Show the navigation pane or Libraries

Turn the whole pane back on

If the entire left pane is hidden, choose View > Show > Navigation Pane. This controls whether the pane is visible; it does not pin or unpin a specific folder.

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Show Libraries

Libraries have a separate visibility setting. Choose View > Navigation pane > Show libraries to display them.

Navigate the pane with a keyboard

File Explorer’s navigation pane can contain drives, pinned folders, libraries, and network locations. To move focus to the pane, press F6 or Shift+F6, then use the arrow keys to browse. Microsoft lists these keyboard instructions in its File Explorer navigation accessibility guide.

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Which setting should you use?

What you want to change Command What it changes
Add an ordinary folder Right-click folder > Pin to Quick access Adds the folder to Home and the navigation pane.
Remove a pinned folder Right-click entry > Unpin from Quick access Removes its pin, not the folder or its contents.
Restore a built-in folder Home > Up arrow > right-click folder > Pin to Quick access Returns the selected known folder to Home and the pane.
Show a hidden left pane View > Show > Navigation Pane Displays the whole navigation pane.
Display Libraries View > Navigation pane > Show libraries Shows Libraries in the pane.

File Explorer’s Home and other interface details have changed across Windows updates. Microsoft’s notes for the November 14, 2023 update, KB5032190, describe a modernized Home and related interface changes: Windows 11 KB5032190 release notes. For the basic pinning task, use the current command labels shown in File Explorer.

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