Windows 11 File Explorer Bug: Cannot pin folders to Navigation Pane and "Gallery" is completely missing

Hi everyone,

I am having a frustrating issue with File Explorer on Windows 11 after a clean installation and some system optimization tweaks. My navigation pane seems completely broken/restricted.

Here are the two specific problems I am facing:

1. Cannot Pin Folders: I am completely unable to pin any folders to the left navigation pane (Quick Access / Home section). Trying to drag and drop or select "Pin to Quick Access" does absolutely nothing.
2. Missing "Gallery" Section: The "Gallery" (Galería) node is completely gone from the navigation pane. Furthermore, when I open Folder Options > View > Navigation pane, there is no checkbox or option to re-enable it.

I have attached a screenshot showing my current File Explorer layout and my advanced folder settings. As you can see, the navigation pane is stripped down to the bare minimum.

I suspect some registry keys regarding the shell extensions or user folders might have been corrupted or disabled by optimization software.

Has anyone encountered this specific state before? Any registry fixes (.reg), commands, or steps to restore both the ability to pin folders and bring back the Gallery section would be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Considering Gallery, whilst there is this - and you might find more in comments following that helps- it is possible for Gallery to vanish and not be restored, apparently.

some system optimization tweaks

Click to expand...

As you mention a clean install, I'll assume this was recent.
Did you do these manually or with a tool of some sort?

If the latter, it may allow you to revert them or maybe you or it - or even Windows at some point- created a System Restore point beforehand which you could use.

Did you at any point during this sequence start creating 3rd party disk images which you could use to restore your system?

The way I do this is to create my first disk image early on, set up a daily System restore point creation schedule, keep simple notes on changes, and at intervals create a further disk image. Then if something goes wrong I don't have far to go back.

But I also avoid intrusive tweaks which would be affected by an in-place upgrade repair install.

If you've come across Winaero's free tweaker, you'll note it offers a means of reverting changes and an explanation.
It includes some means of changing the Nav. pane.