Solved How to get Shortcuts back in File Explorer

So, I'm not entirely sure what to ask here since MS has attempted to make things so easy that they now can't be done and every set of instructions is instantly outdated (yes, I'm angry, sorry). I had some issues with OneDrive (what were they? I have no idea, but it suddenly asked me to log in, even though I'd been logged in all along, while simultaneously refusing to allow me to log in because the login screen kept "spinning"). At the same time, I had some issues with Windows Update that it would stop spinning when I tried to update. I eventually got through that by shutting down enough times (even though Windows also wouldn't let me shut down because there were tasks running) until Update started "working" again (of course, then a few individual updates didn't work... but whatever). Now that that's all working, my Windows Explorer has changed and the one directory that I had linked to OneDrive doesn't show up at the top anymore. So that's the basic problem. The directory is succesfully linked to OneDrive and replicating down to my other system. However, it just doesn't show up in File Explorer anymore. I think it was in something called "Favorites" or "Quick Access". So I tried to get the Quick Access back, but the instructions Microsoft provides for that says to File Explorer: View -- Options. Of course, there is no "Options" choice in the View menu (how does anyone who uses MS get anything done if every single set of instructions is wrong?). So, this is a (very) long-winded way of saying how do I get my File Explorer back to showing shortcuts to the directory that I duplicate in OneDrive (I do not want to search for it forever since Windows has changed the file structure to be incomprehensible, among it's other issues).
Thanks you (and sorry for ranting).

EDIT: I should add that I have already gone to that directory, right clicked and said "Pin to Quick Access".

Hello gammonGo,

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing this in File Explorer to see if anything may stand out as a cause.

Hi. I'm working on that. Apparently one of the other things that changed is that I can't take screen shots anymore. (Man I hate Windows nowadays.)

The problem isn't knowing how to do it. The problem is that screenshots seems to be one of the many things that are broken. I'll have a new thread soon asking for overall help with various, seemingly unrelated, issues, since it seems Windows Update (combined with Java Update and Chrome Update) has completely broken something (or things).

gammonGo said:

but the instructions Microsoft provides for that says to File Explorer: View -- Options. Of course, there is no "Options" choice in the View menu

Click to expand...

That is correct. Options is in a separate location on the toolbar. Click on the Ellipsis (three dots) > Options.

To take a screenshot press the Print Screen (PRT SCN beside F12) button on your keyboard or hold down Shift + Windows key + S, hopefully, one of those will work.

If you are able to, open a command prompt (run as administrator) and type in sfc /scannow and press enter.

Let the process complete, then reboot the PC.

Then go to settings > system > troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and click on Windows Update > Run.

When that completes, try updating Windows again.

Fingers crossed that should sort most of your issues out, but if not let us know.

Thanks. I'm abandoning this thread since it's superceded by a bigger, related (I think) problem.

I see you are abandoning this Thread, but Since you have numerous problems, I would suggest a Repair Install Keeping Files
Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

Spunk said:

I see you are abandoning this Thread, but Since you have numerous problems, I would suggest a Repair Install Keeping Files
Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's been recommended in the other thread, too. I can't do something that time consuming till this weekend. But will get to it. Thanks.

A Repair Install will take about 20 min or so.

Spunk said:

A Repair Install will take about 20 min or so.

Click to expand...

Plus the time for me to read and learn about it.

Nothing to read about, you start it, click "Keep Files' and if finishes a few minutes later

gammonGo said:

The problem isn't knowing how to do it. The problem is that screenshots seems to be one of the many things that are broken. I'll have a new thread soon asking for overall help with various, seemingly unrelated, issues, since it seems Windows Update (combined with Java Update and Chrome Update) has completely broken something (or things).

Click to expand...

I create tutorials for my Windows 11 students. I am on 23H2 and have no problem creating screenshots as you can see below.

gammonGo said:

Hi. I'm working on that. Apparently one of the other things that changed is that I can't take screen shots anymore. (Man I hate Windows nowadays.)

Click to expand...

gammonGo said:

...it seems Windows Update (combined with Java Update and Chrome Update) has completely broken something (or things).

Click to expand...

The issue is with your system, not Windows. Like Wynona, I've zero issues with creating screenshots, and I just updated to 23H2....



Windows, like the messenger, gets blamed for a lot of things when it's simply alerting you of an issue. And "not working" is also an alert

gammonGo said:

Thanks. I'm abandoning this thread since it's superceded by a bigger, related (I think) problem.

Click to expand...

Well, the problems in my other thread have all been solved (magically solved themselves before I ever returned to it), except for this one, so I am re-activating this thread (if that's allowed).

Spunk said:

Nothing to read about, you start it, click "Keep Files' and if finishes a few minutes later

Click to expand...

Well, I didn't get to it before the problem magically fixed itself, after about 5 days.

Wynona said:

I create tutorials for my Windows 11 students. I am on 23H2 and have no problem creating screenshots as you can see below.

Click to expand...

Dru2 said:

The issue is with your system, not Windows. Like Wynona, I've zero issues with creating screenshots, and I just updated to 23H2....

View attachment 76263

Windows, like the messenger, gets blamed for a lot of things when it's simply alerting you of an issue. And "not working" is also an alert

Click to expand...

Thanks both of you. But the problem wasn't learning how to do it or the system, it was Windows. I used to do it frequently on this system, but screenshots stopped working at the same time as all the other stuff that went wrong. Anyway, it's back now and I'll have screenshots in my next post.

OK, so what's happening seems to be that Quick Access isn't available anymore in File Explorer. You can see in the two pics I posted that it's not appearing. In both of those pics, I clicked the "Pin to Quick access", but the choice never changes to "Unpin from Quick access". Quick Access never appears in File Explorer. And there is no choice in Options to display Quick Access. I cannot find instructions (that work) for how to get Quick Access back.
Thanks.

gammonGo said:

OK, so what's happening seems to be that Quick Access isn't available anymore in File Explorer. You can see in the two pics I posted that it's not appearing. In both of those pics, I clicked the "Pin to Quick access", but the choice never changes to "Unpin from Quick access". Quick Access never appears in File Explorer. And there is no choice in Options to display Quick Access. I cannot find instructions (that work) for how to get Quick Access back.
Thanks.

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You know what, nevermind this whole thread (right after re-activating it). I finally found an answer. stevepow's response is buried deep in this thread. The answer is to DISABLE "Show recommended section" in File Explorer Options.