Solved Making pinned files sticky in Word and Excel

Buddy · Jan 23, 2023

I realize I should ask this in the MS support forum, but it sure is clunky. So, here we are...

I just installed Office 2021 (local, not from 365). My old Win 7 PC had Office 2013. On 2013, when selecting "File" from the top menu line (not the ribbon), you could then select "Recent" and get a combined list of your pinned files and your recent files, with the pinned files sticky at the top of the list.

In 2021, there is a tab for Recent and a separate tab for Pinned. If you've opened a pinned file recently, it will show in the Recent list, but if you haven't, it won't.

Is there a way to combine the Recent and Pinned lists, with Recent sticky at the top, like it worked in Office 2013?

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

Buddy said:
Is there a way to combine the Recent and Pinned lists, with Recent sticky at the top...

Mine are combined and remain the order I've used them...

glasskuter · Jan 23, 2023

No way to combine I am aware of. A pinned item will show on list of recent if you have worked on it.
If a file you haven't worked on lately doesn't show on the list you can click on "more documents" at the bottom.
Your solution might be to change the number of recent files you see in the list as well as the number of pinned items.
word options>advanced>display

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

glasskuter said:
No way to combine I am aware of.

I guess I'm not understanding the question.

Dru2 · Jan 23, 2023

Edwin said:
I guess I'm not understanding the question.

I'm with you Edwin. Not clear on the question.

At any rate, if you pin an app to the taskbar, and right click it, you will see a list of recent and pinned items. If you right click an item and click "Pin to this list" it will become permanently pinned and not be overridden by other recent items.

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

glasskuter said:
... you can click on "more documents" at the bottom.

Ah! Yes..., I get it now!

Click Open (or Ctrl+O) instead.

Dru2 · Jan 23, 2023

I just right click from the taskbar to find my most recent, which shows the last 10 entries, plus the items you've pinned.

glasskuter · Jan 23, 2023

Edwin said:
I guess I'm not understanding the question.

I think what he's asking is upon opening Word, rather than having the 2 tabs marked pinned and recent, he wants one combined list.

Buddy · Jan 23, 2023

glasskuter said:
I think what he's asking is upon opening Word, rather than having the 2 tabs marked pinned and recent, he wants one combined list.

Yes, and with the pinned files sticky at the top of the list regardless of when they were last opened. Right now, they only show in the Recent list if they were opened, well, recently.

Yeah, I know there are ways to do this in File Explorer or the start menu, but I was hoping to do it inside Word and Excel. It DID formerly work exactly this way in Office 2013, but MS thoughtfully changed it.

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

@Buddy
I think what you want to see is the Open Page, not the Home page...

However..., to get Word to open to that page from scratch, I wouldn't have a clue!

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

Buddy said:
... when selecting "File" from the top menu line (not the ribbon), you could then select "Recent" and get a combined list of your pinned files and your recent files...

Instead of clicking File, create an Open button on the Ribbon or Quick Launch Bar..., that will get you to the combined list as per the screenshot above.

Edwin · Jan 23, 2023

@Buddy
You should also investigate what @Dru2 showed in Post #5.

Buddy · Jan 23, 2023

Ah, thanks all. So many options.

The Open dialog gives the result I was wanting. The Open button that I currently have on my customized ribbon takes me straight to the classic mini-Explorer dialog box pointing at the default save directory. I haven't looked yet, but I bet I can do one pointing at File/Open.

Right clicking Excel or Word in the taskbar works, too, but it looks like you have to pin files there separately. It's not showing a pin on files that I pinned from File/Open.

And, as I said before, I'm probably staying away from pinning them to the Start Menu or Explorer. I did that on my old computer and had stuff scattered all over the place.

Bit by screaming bit, I'm getting dragged into the present.

Dru2 · Jan 23, 2023

Buddy said:
Is there a way to combine the Recent and Pinned lists, with Recent sticky at the top, like it worked in Office 2013?

I get it now, and I believe Edwin has your solution in post #10

Also per Microsoft - Customize the list of recently used files in Office apps - Microsoft Support.

Dru2 · Jan 23, 2023

Buddy said:
Right clicking Excel or Word in the taskbar works, too, but it looks like you have to pin files there separately. It's not showing a pin on files that I pinned from File/Open.

The taskbar feature will show the most recent last 10 files opened. However, if you open or create lots of files, the most recent list can change. Pinning a file will not remove it, no matter how many other files you open. And all it takes to pin is a right click.

Good luck.

Charlie · Sep 4, 2023

Perhaps this is what you're looking for...
Specifically shows how to clear the Jump Lists on the Task Bar Icons, but I used it to get them back

Windows 10 Tip: Clear Jump Lists in Windows 10

Microsoft introduced Jump Lists in Windows 7 and it's are a nice feature to improve your workflow. But at times, you might want to clear out the items.

www.groovypost.com

Solved Making pinned files sticky in Word and Excel

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