How to remove Quick Access on Windows

‘Quick Access’ is an element of Windows that provides easy access to users’ most often seen folders and previously opened records by the File Explorer. You may find it helpful if you would like to access your documents without having to browse through the folders. On the other hand, some users might not want this option and prefer to their drives or other locations. In case you fall into that category, you might be curious as to How to remove Quick Access on Windows or what is it and why should you do this.

This article will guide us on How to remove Quick Access on Windows 10 and 11 operation systems. We also show you how to customize Quick Access by pinning and unpinning folders, clearing the history, and disabling recent files and folders. We shall also address some common queries regarding the utility of quick access and comparable apps.

Key Takeaway

• Quick Access is a feature in Windows that shows your frequently used folders and recently opened files in File Explorer.
• You can remove Quick Access on Windows by changing the File Explorer options to open to This PC or another location instead.
• You can also customize Quick Access by pinning or unpinning folders, clearing the history, and disabling the recent files and folders.
• Quick Access is not the same as Favorites or Libraries, which are other ways to organize your files and folders in Windows.

How to remove Quick Access on Windows 10

If you are using Windows 10, you can remove Quick Access on Windows 10 by following these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E or clicking on the icon in the taskbar.
2. Click on the View tab and select Options from the ribbon menu.
3. In the Folder Options window, switch to the General tab and click on the drop-down menu next to Open File Explorer.
4. Select This PC or another location that you want to see when you open the File Explorer.
5. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now, when you open the File Explorer, you will see the location that you selected instead of Quick Access. However, Quick Access will still be visible in the navigation pane on the left side. If you want to hide it completely, you can do so by editing the registry. However, this is not recommended as it may cause problems with your system. Therefore, we advise you to back up your registry before making any changes.

To hide Quick Access from the navigation pane, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click on OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
4. Right-click on the Explorer key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value HubMode and double-click on it to modify it.
6. Set the value data to 1 and click on OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

After restarting, you will not see Quick Access in the navigation pane anymore. However, you can still access it by typing shell:Quick Access in the address bar of the File Explorer.

How to remove Quick Access on Windows 11

If you are using Windows 11, you can remove Quick Access on Windows 11 by following these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E or clicking on the icon in the taskbar.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon at the top and select Options from the list.
3. In the Folder Options window, switch to the General tab and click on the drop-down menu next to Open File Explorer.
4. Select This PC or another location that you want to see when you open the File Explorer.
5. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now, when you open the File Explorer, you will see the location that you selected instead of Quick Access. However, Quick Access will still be visible in the navigation pane on the left side. If you want to hide it completely, you can do so by editing the registry. However, this is not recommended as it may cause problems with your system. Therefore, we advise you to back up your registry before making any changes.

To hide Quick Access from the navigation pane, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click on OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
4. Right-click on the Explorer key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value HubMode and double-click on it to modify it.
6. Set the value data to 1 and click on OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

After restarting, you will not see Quick Access in the navigation pane anymore. However, you can still access it by typing shell:Quick Access in the address bar of the File Explorer.

How to Customize Quick Access on Windows

If you do not want to remove Quick Access on Windows completely but want to customize it to suit your preferences, you can do so by following these tips:

• Pin or unpin folders to Quick Access: You can add or remove folders from Quick Access by right-clicking on them and selecting Pin to Quick Access or Unpin from Quick Access. You can also drag and drop folders to the Quick Access section in the navigation pane. This way, you can access your favorite folders with one click.
• Clear the history of Quick Access: You can remove the recent files and folders from Quick Access by clearing the history. To do this, open the File Explorer and click on the View tab. Then, select Options from the ribbon menu and switch to the General tab. Under Privacy, click on the Clear button next to Clear File Explorer history. This will remove all the items from Quick Access, except the pinned folders.
• Disable the recent files and folders in Quick Access: You can prevent Quick Access from showing the recent files and folders by disabling them. To do this, open the File Explorer and click on the View tab. Then, select Options from the ribbon menu and switch to the General tab. Under Privacy, uncheck the boxes that say Show recently used files in Quick Access and Show frequently used folders in Quick Access. Then, click on Apply and OK to save the changes. This will only show the pinned folders in Quick Access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers about Quick Access and how to remove it on Windows.

What is the difference between Quick Access and Favorites?

Favorites is a feature in Windows that allows you to bookmark your favorite folders and websites for easy access. You can add or remove items from Favorites by right-clicking on them and selecting Add to Favorites or Remove from Favorites. You can also organize your Favorites by creating folders and subfolders. You can access your Favorites from the File Explorer, the Internet Explorer, or the Edge browser.

Quick Access is a feature in Windows that shows your frequently used folders and recently opened files in File Explorer. You can add or remove folders from Quick Access by pinning or unpinning them. You can also clear the history or disable the recent files and folders in Quick Access. You can only access Quick Access from the File Explorer.

What is the difference between Quick Access and Libraries?

Libraries is a feature in Windows that allows you to group your files and folders from different locations into one place. You can create or delete libraries by right-clicking on them and selecting New or Delete. You can also add or remove folders from libraries by right-clicking on them and selecting Include in the library or Remove location from the library. You can access your libraries from the File Explorer or the Start menu.

Quick Access is a feature in Windows that shows your frequently used folders and recently opened files in File Explorer. You can add or remove folders from Quick Access by pinning or unpinning them. You can also clear the history or disable the recent files and folders in Quick Access. You can only access Quick Access from the File Explorer.

How to restore Quick Access on Windows?

If you have removed Quick Access on Windows by changing the File Explorer options or editing the registry, you can restore it by reversing the steps. To do this, follow these steps:

• To restore Quick Access in the File Explorer options, open the File Explorer and click on the View tab. Then, select Options from the ribbon menu and switch to the General tab. Click on the drop-down menu next to Open File Explorer to and select Quick Access. Then, click on Apply and OK to save the changes.
• To restore Quick Access in the registry, open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows key + R and typing regedit. Then, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Double-click on the HubMode value and set the value data to 0. Then, click on OK and close the Registry Editor. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

What are some alternatives to Quick Access on Windows?

If you do not like Quick Access on Windows, you can use some alternatives to access your files and folders quickly. Here are some of them:

• Use the address bar or the search box in File Explorer to type the name or the path of the file or folder that you want to open.
• Use the keyboard shortcuts to open the common folders, such as Windows key + E for This PC, Windows key + R for Run, Windows key + I for Settings, etc.
• Use the pinned items in the taskbar or the Start menu to access your favorite apps, files, and folders with one click.
• Use the OneDrive app to sync your files and folders to the cloud and access them from any device.