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


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Click to expand...

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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)
 

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At a glance

Windows 11 Pro; 21H2, Build 22000.1281AMD Ryzen 3 3250 with Radeon Graphics8gbAMD Graphics
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.
 

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    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200i3-1215U8GB
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    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200
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    MSI PRO ADL-U Cubi 5 (MS-B0A8)
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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.
 

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System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    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

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    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
1783318668779.webp


So I recently found out that the quick access menu in Windows 11 used to be a drop-down menu like in Windows 10 and some users still have it, apparently. Does anyone know if it is possible to revert to this version instead of the fixed block in the current explorer?
 

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