Download Disappeared!
 

Morning Folks

Upgraded to Windows 11 recently, and have now discovered that the 'Downloads' icon which was visible when opening the 'File Explorer' icon has gone! I have found it hiding in the 'D' drive, but any suggestions how to get this back to being visible when opening 'File Explorer'?

Thanks. as always for your help!

Gehenna

What are you trying to download from where? File Explorer generally shows you files that are already on your own computer.

If you mean the right-click menu in File Explorer has changed in Windows11, with some items replaced with icons (copy / paste) and some hidden unless you click on 'show more', then there's a way of getting them back. Google for Windows 11 right-click menu.

netstruggler
Sorry, did not write my thoughts down very well!
I am talking about say a PDF file that I download, or say a boarding card. With Windows 10, they would go automatically into a download folder which was visible when I would click on the File Explorer icon. With Windows 11 that download folder does not appear.
Having fished around a bit, I found this folder hiding on the D drive, and I wonder if there is a way I can revert to seeing this folder when I open File Explorer.

Hope that makes more sense!

Thanks

I don’t have windows 11 but apparently there is a quick access section in your explorer and that is where ‘Downloads’ could be hiding. If the folder itself is on D, you may have set it to a different location already, it should be in your ‘home’ directory, which will normally be on C.

Just create a shortcut on your desktop pointing to the relevant folder.

The Downloads folder pointer / shortcut used to be in the Favourites section of File Explorer sidebar.
To put it back there, navigate to the location where it actually resides (now that you have found it) and simply drag that folder to Favourites in the sidebar - you should see an arrow appear in the moving icon, denoting that it's creating a shortcut.

Note also that every browser has a settings section relating to downloads, with the option to specify a default location, or to Ask where to download to.

Might be granny/eggs territory here, but if you right click on the Windows Explorer icon on the task bar at the bottom of the screen you can choose to pin favourite folders on to the Explorer pop up window - it's then easy to go straight to whichever folders you use most by right clicking each time... Works with other software icons you pin there, any file or folder can be pinned I think so you can go straight to them.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3b937ffc5e.png

Problem Solved!

Thank you to all for your input and advice; all sorted and now can access as before.