Removing Quick Access in Windows 10 isn’t necessarily a big deal, but it can totally change how you navigate your files, especially if you’re tired of seeing those recent files clogging up the pane or just want a cleaner look. It helps with privacy—no sense in everyone knowing what you’ve been working on—and some folks just prefer jumping straight to “This PC” every time they open File Explorer. The good news is, it’s pretty straightforward, but you do have to dig into a couple of settings or maybe tweak a registry if you’re feeling adventurous. Here’s how to ditch Quick Access and make your File Explorer a bit more to the point.
How to Remove Quick Access in Windows 10
Try these steps out – they’ll get you on your way to a cleaner File Explorer
Open File Explorer
- Hit that folder icon on your taskbar or press Windows + E. It’s the first step to messing with explorer settings. Be sure you’re inside the File Explorer window.
On some setups, it might open with Quick Access by default, but that’s what we’re changing anyway.
Access Folder Options (or Folder Settings)
- Click on the upper menu’s View tab, then choose Options — that tiny button on the far right. It opens up the Folder Options popup where everything is configured.
Sometimes, it’s called Folder Options or Change folder and search options.
Switch the default start location to “This PC”
- In the General tab of Folder Options, find the dropdown for Open File Explorer to.
- Set it to This PC (yeah, the one showing your drives and folders) instead of Quick Access. It’s kind of like setting your homepage to something less distracting.
- It applies the next time you open File Explorer, making it start there instead of the cluttered quick access view.
Honestly, I don’t know why Windows makes switching this so hidden, but now it’s done.
Clear your recent files and folders history
- Still in Folder Options, look under the Privacy section — there’s a Clear button. Click that to wipe the slate clean.
This step is mainly for privacy and makes sure quick access doesn’t automatically pop up with old stuff.
Finalize and save your settings
- Hit Apply and then OK. That commits the changes.
If you’re quick to test it out, closing and reopening the File Explorer should now launch directly to This PC. No more recent files showing up unless you pin them manually elsewhere.
Extra tips and tricks
- Make sure you’re logged in with admin rights if you’re doing registry edits or more advanced tweaks.
- If privacy’s a big thing, consider setting up regular history clearing or even using dedicated tools to automate it.
- For a more permanent fix or bulk policies, you might want to check out the Group Policy Editor — but that’s a bit more involved.
- And yes, if you change your mind later, just go back, switch to “Quick access” in Folder Options, and you’re back in business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quick Access, really?
It’s that little pane showing your recent files and favorite folders, meant for quick jumping around. Not everyone loves it cluttering up their view, especially if they’re privacy-conscious or just prefer a minimalist setup.
Can I keep some folders pinned in Quick Access instead of removing it completely?
Yep, you can pin or unpin individual folders. It lets you customize what shows up, but if you want everything gone, the above method is the way to go.
Will removing Quick Access delete my files?
Nah, nothing gets deleted. It just changes what File Explorer shows by default. Your actual files stay safe.
Re-enable Quick Access later if needed?
Just go back into Folder Options and pick Quick access in the Open File Explorer to dropdown. Easy.
Can this be done via the registry?
Yeah, but it’s more complicated and risky if you’re not used to registry edits. You’d typically navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and tweak values there, but beware — back it up first.
Summary
- Open File Explorer
- Go to View > Options
- Set Open File Explorer to as This PC
- Clear history to wipe recent files
- Save and restart to check it out
Wrap-up
Honestly, switching away from Quick Access is pretty simple once you know where to look. It’s mostly about customizing your default view and clearing out the clutter. If privacy or just a cleaner interface matters, these tweaks can help a lot. It’s not perfect, especially on some setups where things refuse to update immediately, but in general, it works more often than not. Fingers crossed this helps someone organize their File Explorer a bit better — worked on a few systems here, so hopefully it’s the same for you too.