Windows File Explorer Quick Access Disappeared: Troubleshooting Guide

I Cannot Find Quick Access in the New Updated File Explorer!

The Quick Access feature in File Explorer is one of the most convenient ways to reach frequently used files and folders. The items that you've recently worked on or opened are organized into two categories: "Frequent folders" and "Recent files". This feature also poses a risk of privacy leakage, so some users choose to clear the recent file history on Windows.

But now, another issue has drawn attention: Quick Access disappeared from File Explorer, especially after recent Windows 10/11 updates. This not only makes it impossible to quickly access recently used files but also raises the possibility of data loss. Fortunately, you will discover practical way to solve the issue and recover lost files effectively.

How to Fix "Quick Access Disappeared in Windows File Explorer" Issue

This section will walk you through step-by-step methods to fix Quick Access missing from navigation pane and restore your folders. You can try them one by one until Quick Access reappears in your Windows File Explorer.

Fix 1: Restart File Explorer​

Sometimes, Quick Access disappears due to a temporary system glitch. Restarting File Explorer is the simplest fix. This way can refresh the system and show lost Quick Access items.

Step 1. Press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" to open Task Manager.

Step 2. Select Windows Explorer and right click on it, then choose "Restart".

Fix 2: Check Quick Access Settings​

Quick Access may hide if its settings have been changed unintentionally. Checking and restoring the configuration often brings it back.

step 1. Open File Explorer and select "View" tab.

Step 2. Click on "Options" and select "Change folder and search options".

Step 3. Under the "General" tab, switch "Open File Explorer to" to "Quick access".

Step 4. Check the "Show recently used files in Quick access" and "Show frequently used folders in Quick access" options.

Step 5. Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes. Then open "File Explorer" again and check if the Quick Access folder is visible.

Fix 3: Enable Additional Navigation Pane Options

The navigation pane controls what you see on the left side of File Explorer. If Quick Access is hidden here, enabling additional options can restore it.

Step 1. Open "Change folder and search options" like mentioned above.

Step 2. Select "View" tab and scroll down to "Navigation pane" section, then check all the options under this section.

Step 3. Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.

Fix 4: Reset Quick Access

Corrupted configuration files can cause Quick Access folders disappeared in Windows 10 and 11. Resetting Quick Access will restore its default state.

Step 1. Open "Change folder and search options" like mentioned above.

Step 2. Select "View" tab and click "Reset Folders" under "Folder Views" section.

Step 3. Click "OK" to start the process.

Fix 5: Re-pin All Quick Access Items​

If the Quick Access Toolbar isn’t showing, it may be due to a corrupted Quick Access link. To restore the missing Quick Access menu, clear all content from Quick Access and then re-pin it.

Step 1. Open "Command Prompt" and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Run the following command one by one to clear the content of Quick Access and press "Enter":

del /Q /F %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*

del /Q /F %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*

del /Q /F %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations\*

Step 3. Restart your computer and open File Explorer. Then select the folder you want and right click on it, choose "Pin to Quick access".

Fix 6: Rollback Windows Update​

Some updates cause unexpected File Explorer bugs, including Quick Access disappearing from navigation pane. Rolling back Windows update can help.

Step 1. Locate to "Settings" > "Windows Update" > "Update history".

Step 2. Select "Uninstall updates" and choose the problematic update to remove it.

How to Recover Lost Files When Quick Access Is Missing in Windows

Once Quick Access reappears in the navigation pane, you can check if all your frequently used files and folders are still here. However, if you realize that some files have actually been deleted or lost during the process, the issue shifts from Quick Access to a real data loss problem. At this point, exploring reliable data recovery solutions becomes essential.

In that case, MyRecover, the professional data recovery software can help you retrieve the lost data due to Quick Access missing. It can scan all the drives on the computer and offer an opportunity to recover them. MyRecover features a user-friendly visual interface that simplifies data recovery procedures. It can cover various data loss scenarios, such as recovering data from deleted partitions, formatted drives, inaccessible or unrecognizable drives, crashed systems, and more.

MyRecover

👍Support 1,000+ file types, including documents, images, videos, emails, and more.

👍Compatible with all storage devices: USB drives, HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, etc.

👍Dual scan modes: Quick Scan for speed, Deep Scan for thorough recovery

👍Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS in Windows 11/10/8/7 & Windows Server.

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7&Server

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from a secure channel, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Step 2. Launch it and choose the drive where the lost data were originally stored, then click "Scan".

Step 3. Choose the files you want to recover from recoverable lists and click "Recover". You can use the "Filter" function in the right upper corner to locate the files quickly.

Step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files.

When the process is completed, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop out. You can check the recovered files by clicking on the "Browse" button or the destination folder path.

Final Words

The disappearance of Quick Access can be frustrating, but as we’ve seen, it’s usually fixable with settings adjustments, resets, or system scans. However, when files themselves are gone, data recovery tool like MyRecover becomes essential.

If you want more advanced features like unlimited file recovery, previewing function before restoration, the MyRecover Professional Edition is a great choice. It even supports data recovery from unbootable system. It safeguards your files no matter the cause.