How can I get my Windows Explorer Navigation Pane back to normal?

Janice Futher 0 Reputation points
2026-10-04T19:12:44.3033333+00:00

In Windows Explorer, Navigation Pane, is it possible to move Documents down under This PC?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Other
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  1. Vikki-T 11,870 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-08T11:54:08.6366667+00:00

    Hello Janice Futher,

    I understand that you want Documents to appear underneath This PC, similar to the layout used in earlier versions of File Explorer.

    As a first step, please try restoring Documents to the navigation pane:

    • Open File Explorer.
    • Select Home in the left pane.
    • Select the Up arrow next to the address bar. This should display the standard folders, including Documents.
    • Right-click Documents and select Pin to Quick access.

    If Documents is already pinned but appears too high in the navigation pane, you can try dragging the pinned Documents entry within the Quick access/Home section to rearrange it relative to other pinned folders.

    Please note that this will restore Documents to the navigation pane, but it will not place it directly underneath This PC. In current versions of Windows 11, folders such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos are no longer displayed under This PC by default, and Windows does not provide a standard setting to move them back to that exact location.

    If Documents is missing entirely or the navigation pane looks different from this description, please share a screenshot of the full left pane and the Windows version shown after pressing Windows key + R, entering winver, and selecting OK.

    For reference: File Explorer in Windows Thank you so much for your understanding.   

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  2. EmilyS726 271.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-04T19:47:03.2033333+00:00

    Where is Documents folder currently listed under? Or it doesn’t list at all?

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  3. AI answer

    2026-10-04T19:12:56.5366667+00:00

    In Windows 11, the known folders such as Documents are pinned to Quick access by default and are no longer displayed under This PC. That layout change is by design in Windows 11 version 22H2 and later.

    If Documents was unpinned, it can be restored to Quick access:

    1. Open File Explorer.
    2. Select Home in the left pane.
    3. Select the Up arrow near the address bar to show the known folders.
    4. Right-click Documents.
    5. Select Pin to Quick access.

    If the left navigation pane is hidden:

    1. Open File Explorer.
    2. Select View on the command bar.
    3. Select Show > Navigation pane.

    If the goal is to make the navigation pane behave more like earlier versions, Expand to open folder is still available in Folder Options:

    1. Open File Explorer.
    2. Select the three dots > Options.
    3. Open the View tab.
    4. Under Navigation pane, enable or disable Expand to open folder as needed.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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