The Quick Access folder in File Explorer in Windows opens by default instead of This PC as it was done in previous Windows versions (you can still configure File Explorer to open This PC instead of Quick Access). This folder shows recent files and frequent folders in a single view. PC users can pin desired locations inside Quick Access. In this post, we will show you how to add Libraries to Quick Access in Windows 11/10.
Add Libraries to Quick Access folder in Windows 11/10
Libraries in Windows is a special folder/location that allows you to create libraries – special folders which can aggregate files from several different folders and show it under a single, unified view. It’s imperative to point out that a library is an indexed location, and as such Windows Search will be completed faster in a library compared to a regular non-indexed folder.
To add Libraries to Quick Access in Windows, you must add a subkey to the registry.
Do the following:
Since this is a registry operation, it is recommended that you back up the registry or create a system restore point as necessary precautionary measures.
Once done, you can proceed as follows:
- Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
- In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
- Navigate or jump to the registry key path below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HomeFolderDesktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
- If you are running a 64-bit Windows version, also go to the following key path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HomeFolderDesktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
- At both locations, on the left pane, right-click DelegateFolders, select New > Key and name it as
{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}.
Once done, close all Explorer windows and reopen it – Libraries will appear under the Frequent folder’s group in Quick Access, as you can see on the lead-in image of this post.
That’s it!
Related post: How to disable Quick Access in Windows Explorer.
