We are going to learn how to set up and use the Windows Explorer Favorites (aka File Explorer Favorites) and Quick Access sections. Quickly find the right folder when retrieving or saving files or access your frequently used file from the favorites section. If you’ve been creating new files on your computer for any time at all, chances are the folder you need to pull files from and save new files to while you’re working today is five or six layers down in the navigation map in Windows Explorer.
Before I figured out today’s tip, every time I needed to save a new file, I’d have to laboriously click down through the navigation panel to find the exact Save location, even though I had just looked at that folder a minute before.
Not anymore. Now when I want to save a new file, I click on the folder in the Quick Access section. Additional updates made to a file that I open daily or weekly can quickly be accessed in the File Explorer Favorites section. Talk about a productivity improvement!
I’ll show you how to set up both sections to save yourself time and aggravation when you retrieve or save files.
Key Points to Remember
- In the Home section, Quick Access is a shortcut to folders, libraries, or drives on your computer.
- Quick Access folders are also shown in the left navigation panel in Windows Explorer (or File Explorer).
- In the Home section, Windows Explorer Favorites are files or folders that you add to be easily accessed but don't necessarily need to be on the left panel section.
Best Way To Set Up File Explorer Quick Access
1. Open Windows Explorer 2. Browse to the folder, library, or drive that you frequently use. Right-click and select 'Pin to Quick access' from the menu. 3. Hit the Home icon, which is at the top of the left navigation panel, you will see the Quick Access section at the top portion of the window. 4. You will also see this folder, library, or drive pinned to the left navigation panel as well. To remove: From the Home view, select the item in Quick Access > Right click > Unpin from Quick access.Best Way to Set Up File Explorer Favorites
1. Open Windows Explorer 2. Browse to the folder, library, or drive that you frequently use. Right-click and select 'Add to Favorites' from the menu. 3. Hit the Home icon, which is at the top of the left navigation panel, you will see the Favorites section at the top portion of the window. To remove: From the Home view, select the item in Favorites > Right-click > Remove from Favorites.Productivity Tips
- Don’t add too many custom Favorites or Quick Access files. Shoot for just 3 or 4 of them in each section.
- Use your custom Quick Access section to quickly and easily access top-level folders or drives.
- Use your custom Favorites section to access those frequently used documents where you don't need anything else from the original file location.
- During your daily work, use the built-in ‘Recent places’ Favorite to quickly get back to or save to a lower-level folder you’ve been using for that day’s work.
