Had a shortcut to a network share and the location is no longer available. When I try and delete the favorite Windows Explorer locks up. How do I delete the shorcut?
Use the instructions in the “How to Restore the Default Favorites” section, at the end. Then add back the new shortcuts you want to have there. Whatever you do, do not touch the invalid shortcut, to avoid freezes and so on. 🙂
Click on the “Favorites” shortcut there, that will open an explorer window with the shortcuts as items. There you can just single click select, and delete it.
ARH
10 years ago
A Microsoft spelling speciality: Favorites or Favourites?
Sometime between Win XP and Win 8.1, Microsoft experimented with changes to the spelling of this “star”-icon folder, changing from favorites to favourites.
Also, note that there are exactly two different folders called “favourites” in Win 8.1:
– one refers to the bookmarks for Internet Explorer, stored in C:Users[User]Favorites.
My PC has two default subfolders called “Favourites Bar” and “Other favourites bookmarks”. Interestingly, the File Explorer address bar shows another spelling, namely [User]Favourites !
– the favourites “star”-icon folder refers to shortcuts stored in C:UsersAlexLinks.
Great Microsoft terminological fruit salad.
Enjoy.
Rich
10 years ago
Totally agree ARH, but thanks for explaining as it’s helped me pin my [file explorer] favourites to my taskbar in Windows 8.1
Ed
9 years ago
I still can’t figure out how to move Win 7 Favorites to a folder so I can record them on a disc or jump drive like I could do in XP
Diane de Viron
8 years ago
This doesn’t work on my computer. My favorites folder is empty, when I click on “restore favorite links” nothing happens and when I try to add a shortcut it does not work.
Any idea what I can do?
Jatinder
8 years ago
Thanks for sharing..!!
Ouam
8 years ago
I don’t think it enhances the productivity at all.
I work with windows 7 all the days and I regret the time when favorites were in the menu bar.
Why ?
Simply because I work with big and deep trees in the explorer and the favorites are at the root (understand at the top) of the navigation panel and it doesn’t “follow” with your navigation in the tree.
When they were in the menu bar, they were always availiable and you didn’t have to scroll until the top to see and use them.
Regards.
Gord
8 years ago
I am now upgraded from 7 to windows 10, I have imported my favorites list from IE and all are there ,however in a different order. Being a large list it has become hard to find the ones I use most frequently. Can anyone tell me how to change the order of the list to have my frequently used ones at the beginning?
Clarealice
8 years ago
Hi, is there a way to organise favourites quickly and in bulk? I often have heaps in my favourites folder and would love a way to bulk-delete shortcuts from the Favourites list, rather than right-click on each one, 1 at a time.
Kayjay Embee
6 years ago
Your explanation was so simple and clear. I can’t believe how poor Help is for Microsoft programs. Please keep it up.
I notice that the Windows default favorites, if deleted, will reappear at some point in the future. I assume its due to a Windows or Office update. I am looking to prevent this from changing MY favorites.
vivien walsh
4 years ago
why has favourites column shrunk,cant seen to alter it cheers
Just seen your comment of old here, and maybe you can help me with an issue.
In IE I was able to save Office files in my Favourites, it was great as I could have these in same folder as articles from the Internet – can I do it with Edge I wonder, just found out there is a Chromium version and i (think!) I have it!
How can I download favorites to an external hard drive?
Copy and paste?
Had a shortcut to a network share and the location is no longer available. When I try and delete the favorite Windows Explorer locks up. How do I delete the shorcut?
Use the instructions in the “How to Restore the Default Favorites” section, at the end. Then add back the new shortcuts you want to have there. Whatever you do, do not touch the invalid shortcut, to avoid freezes and so on. 🙂
Click on the “Favorites” shortcut there, that will open an explorer window with the shortcuts as items. There you can just single click select, and delete it.
A Microsoft spelling speciality: Favorites or Favourites?
Sometime between Win XP and Win 8.1, Microsoft experimented with changes to the spelling of this “star”-icon folder, changing from favorites to favourites.
Also, note that there are exactly two different folders called “favourites” in Win 8.1:
– one refers to the bookmarks for Internet Explorer, stored in C:Users[User]Favorites.
My PC has two default subfolders called “Favourites Bar” and “Other favourites bookmarks”. Interestingly, the File Explorer address bar shows another spelling, namely [User]Favourites !
– the favourites “star”-icon folder refers to shortcuts stored in C:UsersAlexLinks.
Great Microsoft terminological fruit salad.
Enjoy.
Totally agree ARH, but thanks for explaining as it’s helped me pin my [file explorer] favourites to my taskbar in Windows 8.1
I still can’t figure out how to move Win 7 Favorites to a folder so I can record them on a disc or jump drive like I could do in XP
This doesn’t work on my computer. My favorites folder is empty, when I click on “restore favorite links” nothing happens and when I try to add a shortcut it does not work.
Any idea what I can do?
Thanks for sharing..!!
I don’t think it enhances the productivity at all.
I work with windows 7 all the days and I regret the time when favorites were in the menu bar.
Why ?
Simply because I work with big and deep trees in the explorer and the favorites are at the root (understand at the top) of the navigation panel and it doesn’t “follow” with your navigation in the tree.
When they were in the menu bar, they were always availiable and you didn’t have to scroll until the top to see and use them.
Regards.
I am now upgraded from 7 to windows 10, I have imported my favorites list from IE and all are there ,however in a different order. Being a large list it has become hard to find the ones I use most frequently. Can anyone tell me how to change the order of the list to have my frequently used ones at the beginning?
Hi, is there a way to organise favourites quickly and in bulk? I often have heaps in my favourites folder and would love a way to bulk-delete shortcuts from the Favourites list, rather than right-click on each one, 1 at a time.
Your explanation was so simple and clear. I can’t believe how poor Help is for Microsoft programs. Please keep it up.
Happy to help. 😉
Good guidence
I notice that the Windows default favorites, if deleted, will reappear at some point in the future. I assume its due to a Windows or Office update. I am looking to prevent this from changing MY favorites.
why has favourites column shrunk,cant seen to alter it cheers
Just seen your comment of old here, and maybe you can help me with an issue.
In IE I was able to save Office files in my Favourites, it was great as I could have these in same folder as articles from the Internet – can I do it with Edge I wonder, just found out there is a Chromium version and i (think!) I have it!
Ta
Bren