Restore Quick Access in Windows 10 File Explorer: Simple Fixes

If your folders have disappeared from Quick Access in Windows 10 File Explorer, follow these simple fixes to restore them.

What do I do if Quick Access is Missing?​

1. Restart File Explorer​

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find File Explorer under the Processes tab.
3. Right-click File Explorer and select Restart.

Restarting File Explorer can refresh the system and restore lost Quick Access items.

2. Check Quick Access Settings​

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
2. In the top menu bar, click on View.
3. Click on Options and select Change folder and search options.
4. In the Folder Options window, ensure both Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access are checked.
5. Click Apply and then OK.

Ensuring these options are checked will allow Quick Access to show your recent and frequently used items.

3. Restore Quick Access Folders in File Explorer​

• Open the File Explorer from the Taskbar.
• In the File Explorer, click on the View tab.
• Click the Options drop-down menu and select “Change folder and search options“. It will open the Folder Options window.
  
• In the General tab, make sure “Open File Explorer To:” to is set to Quick Access.
• In the Privacy Section, check “Show recently used files in Quick Access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access” options.
  
• Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
• Close the Folder Options window and the File Explorer.
• Open “File Explorer” again and check if the Quick Access folder is visible.

4. Clear File Explorer History​

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the three horizontal dots (Action button) in the upper right corner.
3. Select Options.
4. In the Folder Options window, under the General tab, click the Clear button in the Privacy section.
5. Close File Explorer and reopen it to see if the issue is resolved.

Clearing File Explorer history can remove corrupted entries causing your Quick Access items to disappear.

5. Re-pin All Quick Access Items​

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator (press Windows + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin)).
2. Run the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
   • del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*
   • del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*
   • del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations\*
3. Restart your computer.
4. Open File Explorer and re-pin your favorite folders to Quick Access.

Re-pinning items can help in refreshing the Quick Access list and restoring any missing folders.

6. Run SFC and DISM Scans​

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Run the following commands and press Enter after each:
   • sfc /scannow
   • dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
3. Restart your computer.

Running these scans will help identify and fix system file issues that might be causing Quick Access problems.

7. Use Data Recovery Software​

If your folders were deleted or lost, you can use data recovery software like AOMEI Partition Assistant or MiniTool Power Data Recovery.

Using AOMEI Partition Assistant:

1. Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.
2. Launch the software and click Recover > Recover data on the top toolbar.
3. Select the source drive where the lost folders were saved and click Start Scan.
4. After the scan, locate the files you want to recover, select them, and click Recover x files.
5. Choose a location to save the recovered files and click OK.

Using MiniTool Power Data Recovery:

1. Download and install MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
2. Launch the software and select the partition that contained the lost files to scan.
3. Browse the scan results to find and select the files you want to recover.
4. Click Save and choose a new location to save the recovered files.

These tools can help you recover lost data efficiently if standard fixes don't work.

8. Create a New User Profile​

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Go to Accounts and select Family & other users.
3. Click Add someone else to this PC.
4. Follow the prompts to set up a new user account.
5. Log in to the new user account and check if Quick Access works.

Creating a new user profile can help identify if the issue is specific to your current user profile.

9. Rollback Windows Update​

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Navigate to Windows Update > Update history.
3. Select Uninstall updates and choose the problematic update to uninstall.

Rolling back the update that caused the issue might restore Quick Access functionality.

By following these solutions, you should be able to restore your Quick Access folders and ensure they stay visible in File Explorer.