[techtalk] WINDOWS - Find Folders Fast by Pinning to File Explorer's "Quick Access"

Mon Sep 11 11:51:51 PDT 2023

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Pin Folders to Quick Access

[Tech-Talk 27 years]

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Webinars for You

NOTE: Register for one of the "Favorites" below and get both.

·    Sep 13: [FAVORITES -PART 1] Graphics, Windows, Email: Supercharge Your Productivity [3 pm ET for 1 hour]

·    Sep 27: [FAVORITES -PART 2] Formatting Docs, Spreadsheets, Quirky Challenges: Productivity Tips [3 pm ET for 1 hour]

·    Oct 11: [VIDEO] Creating Simple Tool Kits Using Three-Minute Video Tutorials [3 pm ET for 1 hour]

·    Oct 25: [GRAPHICS] From Still to Thrill: Create Moving Images That Will Bring Your Content to Life [3 pm ET for 1 hour]

View Webinars and Register Here<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0018XUbK41JyWFjjUHeVHmNKQJXuC3FSbg_CL0FeES-S6UqgJdonXV5dEPKuNVcsqUulCv5BiGhzyUXsSxo8zSo5oc8p8utOV5C1Na5JjqH-QwhXZh7UF2hnCF6s-3iitP1_I-qTJx2KmDIqk1KykNYVPMIf_RdHT6U&c=Q5vEVp8swLd5SAId9BQko5UKp6kbugBHGDIod0ibP_Tukq1r4G0ZYw==&ch=BJf1iY3AQKncPfz-_goTQz_a0uoY0xRjjb4g9zd4EvHmE9fUV4sZsw==>

WINDOWS - Find Folders Fast by Pinning to File Explorer's "Quick Access"

Intermediate

Of course, you have certain digital folders that you access all the time, right? For example, I put files (images, screenshots, Word docs) in my "Tech-Talk Ideas" folder frequently. I'm in and out of it all day long. It's nested down two levels as a sub-folder, so I need to click several times to open it.

[pin folder]

Well, I just learned that I could "pin" this folder to File Explorer's "Quick Access" section. This way (because I use it regularly) it is always front and center – only one click away!

Now, I'm not talking about pinning apps to my toolbar or adding documents to the "Jumplist." Those shortcuts are helpful too, but different. You can read about these in this Tech-Talk article<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0018XUbK41JyWFjjUHeVHmNKQJXuC3FSbg_CL0FeES-S6UqgJdonXV5dItx894VsBrT66rA8-lQ__GgA8UE3FJCmGLwCvy-hVeIVpuUnjAv2t47tlespPDSR3hnwaZkf86aGUIgT5lgN847iNGVRMvMblCQr_wxRthEgUL3C_nt-DtcZSBkgne97w5GX37n1hROtvoO6qREtLs=&c=Q5vEVp8swLd5SAId9BQko5UKp6kbugBHGDIod0ibP_Tukq1r4G0ZYw==&ch=BJf1iY3AQKncPfz-_goTQz_a0uoY0xRjjb4g9zd4EvHmE9fUV4sZsw==>.

What we're going to show you today is how to create a shortcut to a folder in File Explorer's "Quick Access" section ... so that when you want to open it quickly (as the name implies), the folder is right there!

NOTE: You might ask, "Why not just save the folder shortcut to the desktop?" That's certainly an option, but I try to keep my desktop as clean as possible.

Not Sure What We Mean by File Explorer? (Or perhaps you know it by its previous name: Windows Explorer.)

When you click on the folder icon in your toolbar, the file management section of Windows that has a listing of your folders and files opens up. This view helps you to navigate to your documents where you can find, view, copy, and delete files of any type. It has a navigation pane on the left showing the drives and file folders... and then in the right window, you see the list of folders and files.

In this article, we're talking about the top left section of File Explorer titled Quick Access.

[quick access]

[quick access]
Changing What You Have in Quick Access

In the Quick Access section of File Explorer, by default, you see:

1.  File drive locations such as Desktop, Downloads, Documents and Pictures (shortcuts to the other locations).
2.  And a list of files and/or folders that you have accessed recently. These are added dynamically by Windows so that you can reach them quickly.

TIP: See how you can remove these if you'd like at the end of this article.

However, in addition to having your recent docs and folders in this Quick Access area, you can customize this section to add folders that you use regularly.

Add Folders to Quick Access

To add folders that you use all the time to your Quick Access section:

[pin to quick access]
·    Navigate to the folder.
·    Right-click on it and choose Pin to Quick access.
·    Now a shortcut to that folder will appear in the Quick Access section.
·    When you click on it, you'll jump right to that folder location.

By the way, once it is "pinned", you'll see a gray "pin" icon to the right of the file name. If you no longer want that folder in Quick Access, mouse over the folder icon, right-click it, and select Remove from Quick Access.

Remember: You're not moving the folders, just creating a shortcut.

NOTE: You can pin up to 50 folders under Quick Access. However, that seems a bit excessive and defeats the point of creating a handful of shortcuts to folders you want.

Remove or Add a Drive Location

You can do the same for the file/drive locations. For example, depending on the version of Windows you are using, the default drives or file locations may include: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, OneDrive and/or Downloads.

Based on what drives or locations you use most, you can modify what is shown in this list. For example, if you don't use OneDrive, but keep many files in Dropbox, you can swap these out.

To REMOVE a file location shortcut from the Quick Access section, as with folders, right-click on it and select Unpin from Quick access.

To ADD a new file location shortcut to Quick Access, navigate to the drive/location, right-click and choose Pin to Quick access.

[pin to  quick access]

Change Settings for "Recently Used" Quick Access Files

By default, the folders/files that you have accessed recently are shown under the Quick Access section. However, if you want to see only the pinned folder shortcuts that you've added, you can turn off the option to view recent Files or Folders. In File Explorer:

·    Click on the View tab, and on the right select Options.

·    From the drop-down, click Change folder and search options.

[view section]

[customize]
·    In the window that opens, in the General tab, in the Privacy section, uncheck both boxes for Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access.

·    Click Apply, then OK to close the options box.

Now, in that section of the Quick Access area, only folders that you have pinned will be displayed.

Want to Learn MORE Productivity Tips Like This One?

[webinar]

Join us on Wednesday, September 13th and 27th for a two-part webinar called Supercharge Your Productivity Using Tech-Talk's Best Tips.

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to attend one or both!

Can't attend? Register and you'll receive an email with the recording links.

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Communications: Texting

Think of others; respond to texts!

Are you a good text responder ... or do messages you get fall into a deep, dark well?

Nothing is more frustrating than to give info via a text, and not hear anything back!

Did they receive it, you wonder! Are they in agreement? Are they upset?

All these ideas go through the sender's mind when they have conscientiously alerted you to info via text. It's a bit like talking to someone across the room. You expect them to acknowledge that they heard you, right?

When to Reply

OK, let's look at some examples of texts that may tempt you to not reply. They are one-sided and info-sharing.

Can't meet for lunch tomorrow.

Your parents are coming for dinner tonight.

I'm running 10 minutes behind.

Pick up some milk on your way home, please.

You get the idea! In theory, there is no need to reply. A question was not asked. But, in practice, thinking of others, it is best to reply ... if only to acknowledge that you got the message.

A simple thumbs-up will do. Or an "OK". Maybe just a smiley face. Anything to show that you heard what was said.

Don't leave people hanging! Make sure you respond at least once to any text message you receive. It's polite. It's considerate. It's model communications!

P.S. Don't want an endless cycle of "responses"? When it's time to stop texting back and forth, you can use the same technique: a thumbs-up, an OK, an emoji. It tends to stop the conversation and alert the other person that you have no more to say.

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/conted

State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
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