Windows Quick Access is useful for folders you visit repeatedly. A carefully chosen list can save navigation time without requiring you to move the folders themselves.
Pin and unpin a folder
Open File Explorer, locate a folder, right-click it, and choose Pin to Quick access. When that location is no longer useful, right-click its Quick Access entry and choose Unpin from Quick access.
In Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, familiar folders such as Documents and Downloads appear as pinned locations in Home and the navigation pane. The arrangement can therefore look different from an older Windows setup.
Choose by frequency
Pin a location because you use it often, not simply because it contains important files. A folder needed once a year can remain well organized without occupying your everyday navigation list.
For a short project, try pinning its main folder and a separate reference folder. If both have generic names, open each and check the address bar so you know which location you are using.
Review the list at project boundaries
When the project ends, remove its shortcut from Quick Access if you no longer need it regularly. Unpinning is different from deleting the folder. Read the menu choice carefully so a simple cleanup stays a navigation change.
- Keep your most useful locations easy to scan.
- Avoid several entries with indistinguishable names.
- Check the folder path before copying important files.
- Keep backup decisions separate from shortcut organization.
A short Quick Access list is easier to maintain than a complete catalog of your computer. Let the ordinary folder structure handle long-term organization while pinned locations support the work currently in front of you.
Official reference: Read the official instructions.
Featured image: conceptual illustration, not a device screenshot.