Windows 10 Quick Access Not Working: Here’s How to Fix It

Quick Access in Windows 10 is one of those features that, once you get used to it, you can’t imagine your PC without it. It gives you a handy way to access files and folders that you use most often, right from the File Explorer sidebar. But what happens when Quick Access not working Windows 10 becomes your new reality? When it fails to load, doesn’t show your recently used files, or worse, refuses to let you pin items? It’s frustrating, right?

Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered! In this detailed guide, we’ll show you exactly how to fix Quick Access not working in Windows 10. We’ll cover all the potential causes, from minor glitches to more complex issues, and walk you through easy-to-understand solutions so that you can get your Quick Access feature back to normal.

So, if you’re dealing with Quick Access not showing in File Explorer or the dreaded Pin to Quick Access not working, stick around. We’ve got plenty of troubleshooting tips that will get your PC back on track.

Why is My Windows 10 Quick Access Not Working?

Before we dive into solutions, let’s quickly discuss why you might be experiencing Quick Access Windows 10 not working in the first place. Several factors can mess with Quick Access, such as:

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Corrupted File Explorer Settings: Sometimes, the Quick Access feature just gets glitchy due to corrupted settings or file histories.
Issues with Recent Files: If your system isn’t updating or recording recently accessed files, you won’t see the correct items in Quick Access.
System File Corruption: Windows system files can occasionally become corrupted, leading to issues like Quick Access folder location problems.
Outdated Drivers or System Updates: Sometimes, Quick Access may stop working after a system update or due to outdated drivers.

No matter what’s causing the issue, we’ve got several solutions to help you fix Quick Access not working.

Fix 1: Restart File Explorer

The first solution is also one of the simplest. If Quick Access Windows 10 not working properly is a temporary glitch, restarting File Explorer might do the trick. File Explorer is the backbone of the Quick Access feature, and restarting it can resolve minor glitches.

How to Restart File Explorer:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
In the Task Manager window, scroll down until you find Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.

After restarting, check to see if Quick Access not showing in File Explorer has been resolved. If it hasn’t, don’t worry – we’ve got more solutions ahead.

Fix 2: Clear Quick Access History

Sometimes, Quick Access just gets bogged down by too much history data. When Quick Access not working, it’s a good idea to clear its history and reset it. This can get rid of any old, corrupted data that might be causing the issue.

How to Clear Quick Access History:

Open File Explorer and click on the View tab.
On the right side, click on Options to open Folder Options.
In the General tab, scroll down to the Privacy section.
Click on Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.
Uncheck both “Show recently used files in Quick Access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access”.
Click OK to confirm the changes.

Clearing the history can help resolve the issue if Quick Access not working was caused by corrupted cached data. Once you’ve cleared the history, restart your PC, and check to see if the issue has been fixed.

Fix 3: Reset Quick Access Settings

If Quick Access Windows 10 continues to be an issue, resetting the feature might help. You can do this by re-enabling the feature and adjusting its settings.

How to Reset Quick Access:

Open File Explorer and click on the View tab.
Select Options to open Folder Options.
In the General tab, find the Privacy section at the bottom.
Ensure that “Show recently used files in Quick Access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access” are both checked.
Click OK to apply the changes.

After applying the settings, restart your PC, and check whether Quick Access not working is resolved.

Fix 4: Check Group Policy Settings (For Advanced Users)

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, Group Policy settings might be preventing Quick Access from working properly. Certain settings might disable or interfere with Quick Access functionality. Let’s fix that by making sure Group Policy settings are correct.

How to Modify Group Policy Settings:

Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
Look for the following policies:
- Do not use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts. Make sure this is set to Not Configured or Disabled.
- Do not use the recent files list. Ensure this is set to Not Configured or Disabled.
Restart your PC after making these changes.

By adjusting these settings, you can restore Quick Access in Windows 10 and fix issues with Pin to Quick Access not working.

Fix 5: Repair System Files Using SFC and DISM

System file corruption can also be to blame for Quick Access Windows 10 not working properly. Running the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM tools can help repair corrupted system files and restore Quick Access functionality.

How to Run SFC and DISM:

Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow Let the scan finish. If any issues are found, follow the prompts to fix them.
After the SFC scan completes, run the following DISM command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once DISM finishes, restart your PC and check if Quick Access Windows 10 not working has been fixed.

Running these tools can help resolve deeper system-level issues that could be affecting Quick Access not working in Windows 10.

Fix 6: Modify the Registry (For Advanced Users)

For those comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, modifying the Windows registry can help fix issues like Pin to Quick Access not working or Windows 10 unpin from Quick Access not working.

How to Modify the Registry:

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Find the PinnedDocs value on the right-hand side and delete it.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Modifying the registry should help resolve any issues related to Pin to Quick Access not working Windows 10 or other Quick Access not working Windows 10 problems.

Fix 7: Create a New User Profile

If none of the previous solutions work, your user profile could be corrupted. In this case, creating a new user profile can help fix issues like Quick Access not showing in File Explorer or Windows 10 remove from Quick Access not working.

How to Create a New User Profile:

Go to Settings by pressing Windows + I.
Navigate to Accounts > Family & other users.
Under Other users, click Add someone else to this PC.
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a new local or Microsoft account.
Log into the new profile and see if Quick Access Windows 10 works as expected.

This solution can help you avoid issues with Windows Quick Access not working and get your system back to normal.

Fix 8: How to Fix Hard Drive Not Accessible

Sometimes, Quick Access folder location might be inaccessible due to a problem with your hard drive. If Quick Access not working in Windows 10 is related to a drive issue, here’s how you can fix it.

How to Fix Hard Drive Not Accessible:

Right-click on the drive showing the problem in This PC.
Select Properties, and then click on the Tools tab.
Click Check to scan the drive for errors.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fix any errors found.

Once the disk check is complete, restart your PC and check if Quick Access not working in Windows 10 is resolved.

Wrap: Getting Windows 10 Quick Access not working Back to Normal

When Windows 10 Quick Access not working becomes a problem, it can seriously disrupt your workflow. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to fix it, from restarting File Explorer to checking your Group Policy settings or even running system repairs with SFC and DISM.

By following the solutions outlined in this guide, you can resolve most issues with Quick Access not showing in File Explorer, Pin to Quick Access not working, and more.

So next time you find yourself asking, “Why is my Quick Access not working?” remember that these fixes should have you covered. Keep troubleshooting, and soon enough, Quick Access Windows 10 will be up and running like new.

Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.