General Add and Remove Quick Access Folders on Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11


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This tutorial will show you how to add and remove Quick access folders on the navigation pane of File Explorer for all users in Windows 11.

Quick access is part of Home in File Explorer (Win+E).

Quick access allows you to quickly access and view your pinned folders and frequent folders from within Home in File Explorer, and from the navigation pane of File Explorer when Show all folders is turned off.

If you don't like seeing all your pinned folders and frequent folders showing on the navigation pane of File Explorer, then you can remove them without removing Quick access in Home.


EXAMPLE: Add or Remove Quick access folders on navigation pane of File Explorer

Add_Quick_Access_folders_to_File_Explorer_navigation_pane.png
Remove_Quick_Access_folders_from_File_Explorer_navigation_pane.png




Here's How:

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.


1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


 2. Add Quick Access Folders to Navigation Pane of File Explorer for All Users

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Add_Quick_Access_folders_to_File_Explorer_navigation_pane_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}]
@="CLSID_FrequentPlacesFolder"


 3. Remove Quick Access Folders from Navigation Pane of File Explorer for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Remove_Quick_Access_folders_from_File_Explorer_navigation_pane_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}]

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 If File Explorer is currently open, then refresh (F5) or close and open the window to apply if not immediate.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro; 21H2, Build 22000.1281
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 3525
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 3250 with Radeon Graphics
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD high definition audio device; Realtek audio
    Screen Resolution
    1980x1020

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Brink said:
You can still manually remove them again afterwards though.
Click to expand...
Yep, that's what I have been doing - Thanks Brink...(y)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro; 21H2, Build 22000.1281
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 3525
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 3250 with Radeon Graphics
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD high definition audio device; Realtek audio
    Screen Resolution
    1980x1020
Brink said:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=dword:b0100000 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{3936E9E4-D92C-4EEE-A85A-BC16D5EA0819}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=dword:b0100000
Click to expand...
That's not the right value for attributes. The default (HKLM) value is 0xe8040004 so setting bit 0x00100000 which is what you should be doing will give you 0xe8140004.
Because you have set that bit using the appropriate value for 'Remove duplicate drives' , then 'quick access' will be hidden in the navigation pane, but there may be other issues when it is displayed.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI PRO ADL-U Cubi 5 (MS-B0A8)
    CPU
    i3-1215U
    Memory
    8GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony 43" 4k TV
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    250GB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 3 SSD
    PSU
    External 65W
    Case
    Mini PC
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    MS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 3070 SFF
    CPU
    Intel i3-9100
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2721
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 500GB nvMe
    Case
    Dell small form factor
    Keyboard
    Cherry mechanical (Blue)
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
Skeptic Mike said:
That's not the right value for attributes. The default (HKLM) value is 0xe8040004 so setting bit 0x00100000 which is what you should be doing will give you 0xe8140004.
Because you have set that bit using the appropriate value for 'Remove duplicate drives' , then 'quick access' will be hidden in the navigation pane, but there may be other issues when it is displayed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't like that they're also removed from Quick Access causing it to be hidden.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
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