What is the difference between the Favorites and the Quick Access?

PaulE · 21 Apr 2019

In the File explorer there is the Favorite folder.
I can add folder links there to access tem after. The bad thing about it is that I can not unfold it to directyl access targets inside.
so every time I need to access one of my favorites I have to first navigate to the favorites and than to the target folder.
Further if there is a lot of content in the explorer navigation bar - the favorites are not pinned - so I first have to scroll to the top, so o fast access to the favorites the second way.

Additionally there is something like Quick access.
But I don't know how to use this - I can pin folders to the quick access - but they do not show up anywhere.
Should they?

AddRAM · 21 Apr 2019

I don`t even use Quick Access, I go into File Explorer Options in the Control Panel and have Explorer open to This PC instead.

And of course pin File Explorer to the Taskbar, I put it right next to the Windows Start Icon (whatever we call it)

PaulE · 22 Apr 2019

AddRAM said:

I don`t even use Quick Access, I go into File Explorer Options in the Control Panel and have Explorer open to This PC instead.

And what is the benefit of this - I mean the benefit of using something called favorite/quick access would be to access faster the folders I like, no matter how deep they are nested.

Brink · 22 Apr 2019

Hello Paul,

"Quick Access" is basically just the replacement for "Favorites" in Windows 10.

Pin or Unpin Quick Access Locations in Windows 10

Helmut · 22 Apr 2019

Favourites/Bookmarks are Web Browser shortcuts to websites.

Quick Access is to Folders on your drives.

Shortcuts can be to Folders/Files/Websites. I use loads of these (with arrow) as you don't delete stuff accidently just the shortcut. Some are also pinned as a Start Tile.

I don't use Quick Access, or Libraries, just confuses the display of File Explorer.

It is a personal users choice as to what is least confusing.

Try3 · 22 Apr 2019

In Windows 7, MS quite confusingly started using the term Favorites both for what we now call Quick access and for saved website .url files in a set of folders called Favorites. I suspect that it is this re-use of the same term that has led to your question.

In Windows 10, Quick access is a way of getting easy access in File explorer to folders of your choice. Just by way of example, in my Quick access I have Documents, Desktop, This PC & a folder I call PhoneHub.

In Windows 10, Favorites is a set of folders containing saved IE .url shortcuts to website addresses. Just by way of example, in my Favorites I have .url shortcuts to this forum, some online shops, bus & train timetables, …

In Windows 10, Favorites is also a set of saved web addresses held within Edge's own database.
[IE Favorites can be imported into Edge where they are still called Favorites but their link to the original set of Favorites folders is broken - IE Favorites & Edge Favorites therefore diverge as each is independently changed by IE/Edge.]

[[Helmut types faster than I do]]

Denis