Backup and Restore Backup and Restore Quick Access Pinned Folders in Windows 11

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This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore Quick access pinned folders for your account in Windows 11.

Quick access in the navigation pane of File Explorer (Win+E) allows you to quickly access and view your pinned locations, frequent folders, and recent files from one location in Quick Access.

You can Pin to Quick access and Unpin from Quick access items. These locations include local and network files files (build 22557), folders, drives, libraries, OneDrive, This PC, Recycle Bin, etc...

Folders pinned to Quick access will display under Quick access in File Explorer Home, and under the Quick access group in the navigation pane of File Explorer.

Folders you pin or unpin for Quick access will also be pinned or unpinned in the jump list of File Explorer on the taskbar and Start menu.

Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361, now that File Explorer is powered by Windows App SDK, Microsoft is introducing a modernized File Explorer Home powered by WinUI. Recommended files for users signed into Windows with an Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Active Directory) account will be displayed as a carousel and support file thumbnails which is coming soon. Quick Access folders (available by default for users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account), Favorites, and Recent also bring in an updated experience with WinUI.


Contents



EXAMPLE: Quick access pinned folders in "File Explorer < Home" and File Explorer jump list

Quick_access_pinned_folders.png
Quick_access_pinned_folders_in_File_Explorer_jump_list.png





Option One

Backup Quick Access Pinned Folders


1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the path below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations​

Backup_Quick_access_pinned_folders-1.png

3 Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms file to where you want to keep it saved at as your account's backup. (see screenshot below)

The f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms file cannot be renamed.


Backup_Quick_access_pinned_folders-2.png

4 You can now close File Explorer if you like.




Option Two

Restore Backup of Quick Access Pinned Folders


1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the path below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations​

Backup_Quick_access_pinned_folders-1.png

3 Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms file backed up from Option One into the AutomaticDestinations folder. (see screenshot below)

Restore_Quick_access_pinned_folders-1.png

4 If prompted, click/tap on Replace the file in the destination. (see screenshot below)

Restore_Quick_access_pinned_folders-2.png

5 Sometimes you may need to close and reopen File Explorer to apply.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Brink said:
2​
Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the path below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
Click to expand...
1717379781331.png

Is my Windows borked guys? I literally just did a clean install :(

If I run
Code: 
explorer $env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinationsin
in the terminal, I get this window with an empty address bar into which I can't even paste my backup file:

1717380060827.png


No overwrite dialog, it just ignores my paste attempts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Same problem as posts above. That path is not on my machine and I get a pop-up that says that folder doesn't exist.

Message Says this: "Windows can't find "C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations. Check the spelling and try again"

Note: I do have quick access folders pinned on this system. I want to back these up as they have disappeared on me recently after running Windows 11 updates.

Update:
This didn't work:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations


This did work:
%appdata%\microsoft\windows\recent\automaticdestinations

Please note to the Tutorial poster and suggest this may be a new text path and may wish to update the tutorial information based on this.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
cejack4 said:
Same problem as posts above. That path is not on my machine and I get a pop-up that says that folder doesn't exist.

Message Says this: "Windows can't find "C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations. Check the spelling and try again"

Note: I do have quick access folders pinned on this system. I want to back these up as they have disappeared on me recently after running Windows 11 updates.

Update:
This didn't work:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations


This did work:
%appdata%\microsoft\windows\recent\automaticdestinations

Please note to the Tutorial poster and suggest this may be a new text path and may wish to update the tutorial information based on this.
Click to expand...
Hello, and welcome. :alien:

That is odd. They are the exact same path, so both should equally work. Capitalization shouldn't normally matter for a folder path.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
cejack4 said:
Same problem as posts above. That path is not on my machine and I get a pop-up that says that folder doesn't exist.

Message Says this: "Windows can't find "C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations. Check the spelling and try again"

Note: I do have quick access folders pinned on this system. I want to back these up as they have disappeared on me recently after running Windows 11 updates.

Update:
This didn't work:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations


This did work:
%appdata%\microsoft\windows\recent\automaticdestinations

Please note to the Tutorial poster and suggest this may be a new text path and may wish to update the tutorial information based on this.
Click to expand...
I tried to reproduce this problem on Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.3672 after I had disabled my tweak that restores the Windows 10 File Explorer (i.e. the legacy File Explorer with Ribbon instead of Command Bar) on Windows 11, but I still couldn't reproduce your problem. It does accept the uppercase characters just fine so, have you tried running the
sfc /scannow command from an elevated command prompt?
(If the command reports errors that it could not automatically fix, also try runing the
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
hdmi said:
I tried to reproduce this problem on Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.3672 after I had disabled my tweak that restores the Windows 10 File Explorer (i.e. the legacy File Explorer with Ribbon instead of Command Bar) on Windows 11, but I still couldn't reproduce your problem. It does accept the uppercase characters just fine so, have you tried running the
sfc /scannow command from an elevated command prompt?
(If the command reports errors that it could not automatically fix, also try runing the
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.)
Click to expand...
All I can say is my path is the only one that works in File Explorer on Windows 11 Pro - 23H2 built 22631.3672 on my machine.

So that's what I'm going to use.

Nothing else wrong with my system that I'm aware of. I'm from the computer school of "If it's not broke - don't fix it." :-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
cejack4 said:
All I can say is my path is the only one that works in File Explorer on Windows 11 Pro - 23H2 built 22631.3672 on my machine.

So that's what I'm going to use.

Nothing else wrong with my system that I'm aware of. I'm from the computer school of "If it's not broke - don't fix it." :-)
Click to expand...
I don't know if it's broke. But clearly, the symptom of it being not able to accept the path with the uppercase characters still does seem to indicate that it probably is, so...
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
This can be extended with the third party program Quick Access Popup. You can pin shortcuts to the Windows context menu.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP ZBook G2
    CPU
    Intel® Core i7 5500u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Family Graphics AMD Firepro 4150M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Audio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Mouse
    HP USB Mouse
    Antivirus
    Zone Alarm Free Antivirus/Zone Alarm Free Firewall NEXT GEN
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Zbook G4
    CPU
    Xeon 1535m v6
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Quadro Pro 4100
    Sound Card
    Bang and Olufson Audio
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
    Mouse
    HP USB Mouse
    Antivirus
    Zone Alarm Free Antivirus/Zone Alarm Free Firewall NEXT GEN
hdmi said:
I don't know if it's broke. But clearly, the symptom of it being not able to accept the path with the uppercase characters still does seem to indicate that it probably is, so...
Click to expand...
Below is the results of my sfc / scannow command:

==========================================================

PS C:\Users\charl> sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
PS C:\Users\charl>

==========================================================

No problem with the lower-case characters. Errors with the prescribed Capitalized characters in the original post. So I've been still sticking with the lower case characters. Kind of annoying that Windows Updates keep blowing out the Quick Access folders.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
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