A Simple Backup and Restore Method for Favored Folders in Windows 10/11's Quick Access

Looking for that Excel spreadsheet you created last week, or the video you downloaded recently? Quick Access can help. It shows both recent and frequently visited files and folders.

If you're used to finding and opening the files you need through Quick Access, it might feel strange when you switch to a new computer – Windows can't export or transfer folders that you've pinned to Quick Access. Don't worry, though; you can back up and restore your pinned folders in Quick Access on Windows 10 or 11 with a workaround.

Need to backup and restore folders pinned to Start screen in Windows 10/11?

Aside from replacing a PC with a new one, reasons for wanting to back up and restore “fixed” folders might include:

??【BACK UP TO AVOID SYSTEM FAILURES】: Users can also back up and restore their “pinned” folders, in case of computer crashes or the need to re-install Windows, thus avoiding the loss of important data.

To share a fixed folder with other users: If a user wants to share their fixed folder with other users, they can back up and restore that folder so that others can access it. This can be useful for users who need to collaborate or share common files.

Where is the Quick Access folder located?

Quick Access typically includes the Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders for each user account. You can also pin any other folders to Quick Access. Pinned folders are stored at the following location:

How do I backup the folders pinned to the launcher?

Windows 10 and Windows 11 allow users to back up and restore their pinned folders in Quick Access. This feature is particularly useful for users who wish to synchronize their pinned folders across multiple devices or backup their data in case of system failures.

# Backup Pinned Folders with Free Software

Users can rely on Todo Backup Free software to back up and restore specific folders in Windows 10 and 11. This tool lets users select the folders to back up and offers options for where to store the backup files.

Regardless of when you change the fixed folder, you can start the backup anytime since this disk imaging software supports multiple backup modes - incremental backup in Windows 10, full backup, and differential backup.

Step 1. To begin the backup, tap on the "Choose what to back up" option.

Step 2: There are four backup categories, Files, Disk, OS and Mail. Please click on “Files”.

**Step 3.** On the left, you'll see Local and Network files. Expand the folders to locate your backup file.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the location where you want to save your backup.

Click the "Options" button, go to the "Backup Options", and set a password for the backup. Then, click "Backup Schedule" to specify the backup time and triggering events. You can also check other options as needed to customize the backup process.

Step 5: Backups can be stored on a local disk, on an Easystore online service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6: Todo Backup allows users to back up data to third-party cloud storage, as well as to their own.

To back up your data to a cloud storage service provided by a third party, choose Local Disk, scroll down, and add a Cloud Device. Then sign in to your account.

You can also opt for Maxthon Cloud. First, sign up for a Maxthon account, then click "Maxthon Cloud" and log in.

Step 7. Click “Back Up Now” to start the backup process. When it's done, you'll see a task card on the left panel. Right-click the backup task for more operations.

How to Backup Quick Access in Windows 10?

Quick access is a new option in File Explorer of Windows 10. Sometimes, we may want to backup quick access for data security. This article will offer you solutions to such problems.

2. Export Folders Pin to Start in Windows 10/11 via File Explorer

In the second method, you can use the Copy and Paste commands to move the Quick Access library.

Step 1: Check all the files in Quick Access.

Two ways:

1. Open File Explorer and enter the stored address in the address bar. 2. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type `%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations`, and hit Enter. This will show all the files in Quick Access.

Step 2: Copy the file named f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms.

Copy a file from the "Quick Access" folder <img alt="copy quick access file" height="478" src="/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/copy-quick-access-file.png" width="700">

Step 3: >> Paste it into your desired location – an external hard drive, USB stick, or a separate folder.

3. Change Quick Access Folders in Windows 11/10 via Command Prompt

Running CMD is another solution to export a fixed folder without copying and pasting.

Step 1. Navigate to another drive, such as D:, and create a new folder. Name it anything you like. I named mine Backup Quick Access.

<image> Set a New Location for the Quick Access Folder </image>

Step 2: Type “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, and click “Run as administrator.”

Step 3: Type the following command, and then press Enter. Replace backup quick access with the name you want to use for the folder.

Step 4. Open File Explorer again, and you'll see that all of your Quick Access folders have been backed up.

How to Restore the Quick Access Folders in Windows 10/11?

Of course, you could always paste them back where they belong, but there are two quicker fixes that might get your folders back.

Step 1. Restore Quick Access Pin Folders Backup with Software

Users can also employ this backup software to restore their pinned folders from backup files.

1. Launch tools Todo Backup and click "Browse to recover".

Click "Browse to Recover"

Step 2: Specify the backup destination and select the backup file you want to restore (the backup files created by AOMEI Todo Backup are in .pbd format).

Step 3: Choose a recovery location. You can recover the data to a specific location or the original place.

Step 4. Click “Continue” to start the restore process.

2. Restore Quick Access in Windows 11/10 via CMD

Step 1. Run CMD as Administrator.

2. Type the command and press “Enter” when prompted.

Step 3: Open File Explorer and check the folder.

Frequently asked questions about backing up and restoring fixed folders in Quick access

1. How do I view fixed folders in Quick Access?

To view your pinned folders in Quick Access, click the “Quick Access” icon in the left sidebar of File Explorer. Then, click the “Pinned” tab at the top of the page. This will display all of your currently pinned folders.

To view the contents of a folder, simply click on it, and it will expand to show the files and subfolders inside. You can then click on any file or subfolder to open it.

2. How do I move my Quick Access folders to a new computer?

Connect your PCs with the PC transfer tool. Then select the target folder and hit “Transfer”.

3. Why do my Quick Access folders disappear?

Reason 1 – You might have accidentally turned off the Quick Access feature in Settings.

Please proceed to File Explorer and click on the "View" tab to check. Make sure that "Quick Access" is selected. If it's not, click on it to enable it.

The second reason is that you have too many items in your Quick Launch bar.

By default, Quick Access shows only the most recent 20 items. So if you have more than 20 items in your Quick Access folder, older items are replaced by newer ones.

You can change this by following these steps: Open File Explorer, then click on the "View" tab. Next, click on "Options," and select "Change folder and search options." Under the "General" tab, you'll see an option to change the number of recent items displayed in "Quick Access." Enter the desired number, and then click "OK."