Forum Discussion
Windows11 File Explorer quick access pins disappear after network drive disconnects
When a network drive connection is lost, the pinned folders on that drive disappear from the Quick Access list in File Explorer.
After reconnecting the drive, these pinned folders are not automatically restored and must be manually repinned. This issue does not occur with local drives and is present in many versions of Windows 11.
2 Replies
Your local Quick access pins remain, while pins targeting a mapped network drive vanish when that drive disconnects. That points to how File Explorer resolves the unavailable target, not Quick access failing globally. Reconnect the share and confirm the folder opens from its UNC path. Remove the old pin, browse to the folder by its stable UNC path rather than the drive letter, and select Pin to Quick access. Verify Windows reconnects the mapping at sign-in and credentials are available before File Explorer starts. Compare the result in a new Windows user profile; this separates a damaged per-user state from system-wide behavior. Microsoft documents pinning and unpinning folders, but not a setting that guarantees retention of disconnected network pins. If the UNC-based pin also disappears on a current Windows build, reproduce it once, record the build and share type, and submit it through Feedback Hub.
The issue often occurs if the network drive isn't reconnected properly. You can create a script to re-map the drive and even open the folder directly, which can sometimes re-populate the shortcut.
