If you’re a Windows 11 user, you may have noticed that the Quick Access section in File Explorer has a tendency to jump around. This can be annoying, especially if you’re trying to quickly access a file or folder. However, there’s a simple way to stop Quick Access from jumping around. Here’s how to do it:
As you can see, disabling the Show recent files, frequent folders, and Quick Access on Start and in File Explorer option will prevent Quick Access from jumping around. This is because the Quick Access section will no longer be populated with recent files and folders. Instead, it will only show pinned files and folders. Additionally, the Quick Access section will be on the first page of File Explorer instead of the second page. If you want to access recent files or frequent folders, you can still do so by clicking on the Recent or Frequent folders buttons in the left pane of File Explorer.
If you find that Quick Access is still jumping around after you’ve disabled the Show recent files, frequent folders, and Quick Access on Start and in File Explorer option, there may be another issue causing the problem. In this case, you can try resetting File Explorer to its default settings. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the View tab. Then, click on the Options button and select the Change folder and search options option. In the Folder Options window, click on the View tab and then click on the Reset Folders button. Click on the Yes button to confirm that you want to reset File Explorer to its default settings. After File Explorer has been reset, restart your computer and see if the problem has been resolved.
Disable Quick Access
Quick Access in Windows 11 provides a convenient way to access frequently used files and folders. However, if you find Quick Access to be distracting or if it’s jumping around unexpectedly, you can disable it to declutter your File Explorer window and improve your workflow.
Steps to Disable Quick Access
1. Open File Explorer: Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the View Tab: Once File Explorer is open, click on the “View” tab located in the menu bar at the top of the window.
3. Uncheck “Quick access”: In the “View” tab, look for the “Show” section. Uncheck the box next to “Quick access” to disable it.
4. Confirm Changes: A confirmation window may pop up asking if you want to disable Quick Access. Click on “Yes” to confirm your choice.
Quick Access will now be disabled in File Explorer. The File Explorer window will default to showing “This PC,” which displays all the drives and folders on your computer.
Additional Options
If you want to customize the behavior of Quick Access, you can follow these additional steps:
1. Right-click on the Quick Access section: In File Explorer, right-click on the “Quick access” section in the left-hand navigation pane.
2. Select “Options”: A context menu will appear. Click on “Options” to open the “Folder Options” dialog box.
3. Customize Quick Access: In the “Folder Options” dialog box, you can choose which folders to include in Quick Access, set display options, and more.
Change the Default Save Location
One of the most annoying things about Quick Access in Windows 11 is that it tends to jump around to different locations when you open it. This can be very frustrating, especially if you’re trying to find a specific file. Fortunately, there is a way to change the default save location for Quick Access, which can help to prevent it from jumping around.
Here are the steps on how to change the default save location for Quick Access:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the View tab.
- Click on the Options button.
- Click on the Change folder and search options link.
- In the General tab, under the Default save location section, click on the Browse button.
- Select the folder that you want to use as the default save location for Quick Access.
- Click on the OK button.
- Click on the OK button again to close the Folder Options window.
Additional Tips
In addition to changing the default save location for Quick Access, there are a few other things that you can do to prevent it from jumping around. These include:
- Pinning the folders that you use most frequently to the Quick Access toolbar.
- Using the search bar to find files and folders.
- Creating shortcuts to your favorite folders on the desktop or in the Start menu.
By following these tips, you can help to make Quick Access more useful and less frustrating.
Pin Folders to Quick Access
For easier access, you can permanently pin folders to the Quick Access menu. This prevents them from disappearing and reappearing in the menu. Here are the steps to pin folders:
- Open the Quick Access menu: Click on the Quick Access icon located in the Windows Explorer navigation pane (left-hand side).
- Navigate to the folder: Use the navigation tree on the left to browse to the folder you want to pin.
- Pin the folder: Right-click on the folder and select "Pin to Quick Access" from the context menu. The folder will be added to the Quick Access menu and will remain there until you unpin it.
| Folder | Pin Status |
|---|---|
| Documents | Pinned |
| Pictures | Pinned |
| Desktop | Not Pinned |
Use the Keyboard to Quickly Navigate
If you prefer to keep your hands on the keyboard, there are several shortcuts you can use to navigate Quick Access:
**Navigate with the arrow keys:** Use the up and down arrow keys to move through the Quick Access entries. Press Enter to open the selected entry.
**Jump to the top or bottom:** Press Home to jump to the first entry in Quick Access, or End to jump to the last entry.
**Open the Quick Access menu:** Press Alt + F to open the Quick Access menu, which provides additional options such as adding or removing entries.
**Type to search:** Start typing the name of the file or folder you want to access. Quick Access will automatically filter the results as you type, making it easy to find what you need.
**Use the context menu:** Right-click on an entry in Quick Access to access a context menu with additional options, such as opening the file or folder in a new window, pinning it to Quick Access, or removing it.
Navigate with a keyboard
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Quick Access | Windows Key + E |
| Move up and down | Up and Down arrow keys |
| Move to first or last entry | Home or End keys |
| Open selected entry | Enter key |
| Open Quick Access menu | Alt + F |
| Open context menu | Right-click |
| Type to search | Start typing the file or folder name |
Edit the Registry to Control Quick Access
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can modify the Windows Registry to control Quick Access behavior. However, proceed with caution, as making mistakes in the Registry can destabilize your system.
Step 1: Back Up the Registry
Before making any changes, back up the Registry by following these steps:
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit” and click “OK”.
- Click on “File” > “Export”.
- Choose a location to save the backup file.
Step 2: Navigate to the Quick Access Key
Next, navigate to the following key in the Registry Editor:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Step 3: Create a New DWORD Value
Right-click in the right pane of the Registry Editor and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.
Step 4: Set Value Properties
Name the new DWORD value “LastUsedMRUListSize” if it does not already exist. Double-click on the value and set its data value as follows:
- Value: 0 (to disable the Quick Access jump list)
- Value: Any number greater than 0 (to specify the maximum number of items in the jump list)
Step 5: Reboot Your System
After making the changes, reboot your computer to apply the new settings.
Step 6: Verify the Changes
Check if Quick Access no longer jumps around by accessing it in File Explorer.
Additional Information
The “LastUsedMRUListSize” DWORD value can take on the following values:
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
| 0 | Disables the Quick Access jump list |
| 1 | Displays the most recently used files only (default behavior) |
| n | Displays the n most recently used files |
Create a Custom Folder Shortcut
Follow these steps to create a custom folder shortcut that always opens in a specific location:
1. Right-click on the File Explorer taskbar icon and select “Open File Explorer.”
2. Navigate to the folder you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Right-click on the folder and select “Create shortcut.”
4. Drag the shortcut to the desired location on your desktop or Quick Access toolbar.
5. Right-click on the shortcut and select “Properties.”
6. In the “Target” field, add the following text after the folder path: ” /s /t:none /e,start”
7. Click “OK” to save the changes.
8. Double-click on the shortcut to open the folder in a new File Explorer window.
9. To prevent the shortcut from jumping to a different location, right-click on it again and select “Properties.” In the “Target” field, remove the “/s” parameter. Click “OK” to save the changes.
By creating a custom folder shortcut with the “/s” parameter, you can ensure that the shortcut always opens in the desired location, even when accessed from the Quick Access toolbar.
