How to Back Up Quick Access Links in Windows

Quick Access in File Explorer is a convenient list of pinned folders and, depending on your settings and Windows version, recently used files or folders. Windows does not provide a simple export button for this list. You can preserve its underlying files manually, but the method is intended for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and is not a guaranteed transfer between every Windows installation.

The steps below back up the Quick Access data stored in your user profile. They do not copy the folders themselves, nor do they back up files inside those folders. Make sure the folders you rely on are backed up separately. Menu names and File Explorer options may differ slightly by Windows version.

What You’ll Need

A Windows account that can access your own user profile.
A destination such as an external drive or a folder that is included in a separate backup. Avoid storing the only copy in the same profile you are trying to protect.
Permission to view hidden files, or the ability to enter a folder path directly in File Explorer.
Optional: a text file noting which folders were pinned, so you can recreate the list if restoring the saved data does not work.

Step-by-Step

Understand what you are saving. Pinned Quick Access items and recent items can be stored separately. The pinned-items data is commonly held in files in the AutomaticDestinations folder; recent items may use the CustomDestinations folder. These are internal Windows data files, not a readable list of folder names. Copying both gives you a broader backup, but recent activity can include private information.
Open your profile’s Quick Access data location. Open File Explorer, click the address bar, and enter %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations, then press Enter. This opens the current user’s roaming application-data location. If the folder does not open, check spelling and that you are signed in to the Windows account whose Quick Access list you want to save.
Make a clearly named backup folder. On your chosen backup drive, create a folder such as Quick Access backup. Inside it, create a subfolder named AutomaticDestinations. A separate destination makes it easier to identify the saved data and reduces the chance you overwrite the live Windows files by mistake.
Close File Explorer windows. Close all File Explorer windows before copying. Windows may update the destination files while Explorer is open, so copying them at that time could produce an incomplete or inconsistent backup. Do not delete or move anything from the original location.
Copy the pinned-items data. Return to the AutomaticDestinations folder. Select the files inside it, copy them, and paste them into the matching backup subfolder. Copy the files, not the live folder contents by moving them. If Windows reports that a file is in use, cancel and close any remaining Explorer windows before trying again.
Optionally save recent-item data. In the File Explorer address bar, enter %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations. If the folder exists and you want to preserve recent-item history, create a matching CustomDestinations folder in your backup and copy its files there. Skip this part if you do not want to retain recent activity or the location is absent.
Record your pinned folders. Reopen File Explorer and note the names or paths of your pinned folders in a text file saved with the backup. This is a useful fallback because the copied data is not designed for people to inspect or edit, and Windows may not accept it after a major profile or system change.
Check the backup. Confirm the copied files appear in the destination and that the backup drive is accessible. If you use a cloud-synced folder, wait for syncing to finish and verify the files are available there. Keep the backup separate from the original profile and do not test restoration by overwriting live files.

Common Mistakes

Copying only a shortcut: A shortcut to a folder is not the same as saving Quick Access’s pinned-item data. Copy the files in the data location, and separately back up the actual folders.
Moving instead of copying: Moving files out of the live Windows folder can disrupt the current list. Use Copy and Paste, and leave the originals in place.
Backing up the wrong account: Each Windows user has a separate profile. Check that the address bar path opens the account whose list you want to preserve.
Assuming recent history is required: The CustomDestinations data is optional and may reveal usage history. Save it only if you want that history included.
Expecting a perfect transfer: Internal files may not work across different Windows versions, profiles, or PCs. Keep a human-readable list of pinned folders as a fallback.

Tips

Repeat the backup after making a major change to your pinned list, or include the backup folder in your normal file-backup routine. Give each saved copy a date in its folder name if you keep multiple versions, and protect the drive as you would other personal data.

For a small list, writing down folder paths can be simpler than relying on internal files. To recreate the list, open each folder in File Explorer, right-click it, and choose the pin option shown in the context menu; wording may vary by Windows version. This is often the safer fallback when moving to another computer.

Troubleshooting

The folder path says it cannot be found

Enter the path in File Explorer’s address bar, not the Windows search box, and confirm the spelling. Some locations may not exist until Windows has created relevant Quick Access data. If so, use the written list of folder paths or pin the folders again.

Files are hidden or the folder looks empty

Check that you entered the complete path and are using the correct Windows profile. You can also turn on the option to show hidden items in File Explorer; its menu location varies by version. Do not change permissions or take ownership of folders just to make this backup.

Windows says a file is in use

Close every File Explorer window and try copying again. If it remains in use, restart Windows, open the destination folder before opening File Explorer again, and retry. Do not force-delete or rename the original files.

The restored list does not appear

There is no universal restore guarantee for these internal files. First, keep the current files safe rather than overwriting them: close Explorer, make a separate copy of the current data, and only then consider restoring a backup made on the same account and Windows installation. If that does not work, pin folders again using your notes. Avoid replacing files on a different PC or profile unless you have another backup and understand that the result may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this back up the folders themselves?

No. It saves Quick Access data, not the contents of the folders or the folders themselves. Back those up separately using your usual file-backup method.

Can I use this backup on another computer?

You can keep the files as a reference, but Windows may not apply them correctly on a different PC or user profile. Recreating pins from a written list is generally more dependable.

Will it save Quick Access history?

Copying the optional CustomDestinations data may preserve some recent-item information. Its contents can be personal, so leave it out if you only want to save pinned folders.

Can I restore the backup while File Explorer is open?

Do not replace the live data while Explorer is open, because Windows may be using or updating it. Close Explorer first, preserve a copy of the current data, and remember that restoring internal files is not guaranteed.

Is there an easier way to preserve pinned folders?

For a short list, record each folder path and pin the folders again when needed. This avoids relying on Windows’ internal data files and works well as a fallback.

Further reading: Microsoft Support. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.