How to Add and Remove Favorites in File Explorer Home in Windows 11 Windows 11 makes it easier than ever to keep your most important files close at hand with File Explorer Favorites. This feature lets you pin individual files for quick access, helping you stay organized and streamline your workflow. In this video, we’ll show you exactly how to add and remove Favorites in File Explorer, Step by step. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Prerequisites for Adding or Removing Favorites in File Explorer You don’t need admin rights to use Favorites. Every user can manage their own list. Favorites are user-specific, so any changes you make only affect your account, not others on the same device. Now for the basics: this feature works on Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. Some options, like Shared File Visibility, are still available only in Insider builds, such as Dev or Canary. And one last thing, make sure your files are available locally or through a connected drive. Cloud or network files need to be accessible for Favorites to work properly. Method 1: Using the File Explorer GUI Let's start with the most direct method. This one is best for individual users. To add a file: Press Win + E to open File Explorer and find the file you want to favorite this can be a document, PDF, or image. Right-click the file and choose Add to Favorites. The file will now show up at the top of your Home screen under Favorites. To remove a file: Press Win + E to open File Explorer and go to Home. At the top, you’ll see your Favorites list. Right-click the file you want to remove and choose Remove from Favorites. The file won't be deleted, it just pins from the list. Keep in mind that Favorites and Quick Access aren’t the same. Both help you reach frequently used items faster, but Favorites only lets you pin files, while Quick Access is for pinning folders. Method 2: Pin/Unpin using the File Explorer command bar Windows 11 makes it even easier with a toolbar option to pin or unpin files. This is great for users who prefer using buttons instead of right-click menus. Press Win + E to open File Explorer and select the file or files you want. Use Ctrl or Shift to choose more than one. At the top, click the star icon labeled Add to Favorites. If it’s already pinned, the button will show Remove from Favorites instead. Learning how to add or remove File Explorer Favorites can instantly make your workspace more organized and efficient. It's a small change that helps new users get started faster and reduces time spent searching for important files. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to add and remove Favorites in File Explorer Home Linked in the description below.