How to Disable Default “Quick Access” aka “Home View” in Windows 10 File Explorer?

UPDATE: Windows 11 users can check out following tutorial to disable Quick Access view in File Explorer:

[Tip] Restore Classic This PC View in Windows 11 File Explorer

NOTE: If you are looking to remove Quick Access icon from Windows 10 File Explorer’s Navigation Pane, check out following tutorial:

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[Tip] Remove Quick Access Icon from Windows 10 File Explorer

If you are using Windows 10 in your computer, you might be aware of the new Home aka Quick Access View introduced in Windows 10 File Explorer (previously known as Windows Explorer or My Computer).

This new Quick Access or Home view is the default page of File Explorer in Windows 10 and whenever you open File Explorer using its shortcut icon or WIN+E hotkey, this new view is shown in File Explorer. It shows frequently used folders and recently used files list in File Explorer as shown in following screenshot:

Windows_10_File_Explorer_Quick_Access_Home_View.png

Although Microsoft designed this new view for users convenience but most of the Windows 10 users don’t like this default view. They find it annoying as they have to click on This PC link in left-side pane to access disk drives each time they open File Explorer. Also sometimes users don’t want to show frequently accessed folders or recently opened files in File Explorer due to privacy issues.

In older preview builds of Windows 10, Microsoft didn’t provide any way to disable/remove this new Quick Access or Home view in File Explorer and users had to use Registry tweaks to get rid of this view such as deleting items keys under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\HomeFolder\NameSpace\DelegateFolders key in Registry Editor using similar instructions given in following exclusive AskVG tutorial:

How to Remove Unwanted Items from My Computer in Windows?

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But since the release of build 9926 of Windows 10, Microsoft has made users life easier by providing built-in options to customize Quick Access or Home view or completely disabling this new view in File Explorer.

If you are using Windows 10 and want to do any of following things:

  • Remove frequently used folders list from Quick Access/Home view in File Explorer
  • Remove recently used files list from Quick Access/Home view in File Explorer
  • Get rid of the new Quick Access/Home view in File Explorer

This tutorial will definitely help you. Just follow these simple steps to bring back the old This PC view in Windows 10 File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer, click on View tab in Ribbon and then click on Options.

2. Now to remove frequent folders and recent files list from Quick Access/Home view, uncheck following 2 options present under Privacy section:

  • Show recently used files in Quick Access
  • Show frequently used folders in Quick Access

It’ll immediately remove these 2 sections from Quick Access view in File Explorer.

Change_Windows_10_File_Explorer_Quick_Access_Home_View.png

3. If you want to completely get rid of Quick Access/Home view from File Explorer, change the option “Open File Explorer to” from “Quick access” to “This PC” using drop-down list. It’ll set the old This PC view as default in File Explorer and you’ll always have disk drives page visible whenever you open File Explorer.

4. One more thing! If you also want to remove the unnecessary 6 folders “Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures and Videos” from This PC and extra icons such as OneDrive, Quick Access, etc from Navigation Pane in This PC, check out following tutorials:

[Tip] Remove 6 Extra Folders from Windows 10 Explorer “This PC”

[Windows 10 Tip] Remove Icons from Navigation Pane of This PC

Published in: Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. “1. Open File Explorer, click on View tab in Ribbon and then click on Options.

    2. Now to remove frequent folders and recent files list from Quick Access/Home view, uncheck following 2 options present under Privacy section:”

    There is no “Privacy section” on my computer.
    there is “Change folder and search options” and “Google toolbar”

    /LM.

  2. Thanks for this article. Not clickbait, but useful tutorial that shows up on google search. You are helping everyone! Keep it up

  3. Thank you for this informative guide. Quick access is very annoying especially if other people are using your computer. It gives you no room for privacy.

    Well, following your guide I was able to disable it in a few clicks. Thanks.

  4. I did the registry one and it turned of file explorer and file explorer would not open, so I changed the registry back to 1, now it will open and quick access will not stay disabled, using your method above.

  5. Hi VG,

    Love your site!!! Anyway the problem I am having has nothing to do with quick access in File Explorer. I have resolved those. The problem is that some programs (Excel as an example) take it upon themselves to add a “quick access” ICON on the desktop itself. There are many other apps that do that and nobody seems to know how to 1)get rid of the icon and 2)modify the registry so that apps can’t do that. I have already read a bunch of answers that make no sense. Everyone refers back to the File Explorer. The desktop is the problem at this point. You are my last hope!

    Thanks (PS I can get rid of the icon by running cCleaner of uninstalling Excel..but it comes back)

  6. Yes, exactly. That shortcut icon can’t be removed like other icons. Sometimes the programs puts a shortcut there sometimes they don’t. It doesn’t happen at “install”..that’s the problem. It seems to happen at some point when you are using the app. I could be using the app for a week and everything is fine and then, all of a sudden a “quick access” shortcut is created. I know there are others who have the same problem VG…I’ve searched and there are no answers (logical) answers provided. I will continue to look…you would think that the app itself is causing it but I haven’t been able to confirm that. If I do find something I will post it here but if you can think of anything I would appreciate it.

  7. Just to clarify VG, the shortcut that is added is “not” to the app itself…but to Quick Access.
    I am re-installing Excel and I hope I can replicate it. If I do I will send you more info.

    Thanks again…

  8. I remember along time ago reading an article on Bill Gates and software Microsoft has been building. The interviewer was surprised to see a portrait of Henry ford hanging behind his desk and asked Bill if Henry Ford was an inspiration to him. No replied Bill, it is to remind me how c.zy it was to mass produce the same thing over and over again. The comment went on to say how the software his company is producing will always be different.

  9. Thank goodness for this article. I got so tired of seeing all my p**n files RIGHT THERE IN MY FACE whenever I opened File Manager.

  10. In the newest build of Windows 10, there is no longer an option to change “Open File Explorer To…”. How do I get rid of this accursed Quick Access BS?! Thanks VG

  11. hi, my frequently used folders list is hide in Quick Access and i need this very much.
    when i select to pin each folder to add in Quick Access, explorer give error as ‘this parameter is incorrect’ !!!
    Although i selected the ‘Show frequently used folders in Quick Access’ in folder options. but …
    how to back frequently folders?
    please help me. thank you

  12. I FINALLY FOUND OUT HOW TO “GET RID OF NAVIGATION PANE” Which I have had to do many times on the horrible WIndows 10 as it resets this option everytime there is a large Windows Update as well as removing my background wallpaper after the update! REAL INSTRUCTIONS: Just open any folder and go to “View” at the top then click on “Panes” then click on “Navigation Pane” and then finally click on “Navigation Pane” which will remove the “tick” beside it, thats it! it will Finally disappear! the should of called it Navigation “PAIN”. Anyone that has used a PC for 20+ years will know that Windows wasnt always a messy pile of garbage filled with tons and tons of garbage that nobody wants, “Windows XP” was the best, they never should of changed it, all they have done since is ruin windows completely, nobody that had Win XP likes any new version of Windows as they all know it doesnt have to be such unnecessary garbage, if people wanted extra programs or “APPS” as they are annoyingly called they would just go and get them, but no Microsoft doesnt like common sense and making something work for the person that PAID for it! instead lets just put every program in the world into Windows already! that way people will have 1,000 times to much stuff!

  13. If you set the Attributes DWORD to “a0400000” instead of “a0600000” to not have it appear on the desktop.

  14. As with most instructions for How To_________, in this case I want to remove all my files and folders from the Quick Access ribbon on the bottom. NO step by step gives specific details. It seems each explainer makes false assumptions about what the questionare knows and does not give details. Every place I have looked to unpin from Quick Access only says “pin to Quick Access.
    Wish there was someplace to get instructions in English rather then “you already know computer lingo”.

  15. Too bad you did not answer the question remove the Quick Access feature taking up real estate in Explorer, I think most folks don’t even want it to show.

  16. Unchecking the options does not work on my laptop (Windows 10 Version 1809). File Explorer keeps putting files there. I Just want to get rid of Quick Access without tweaking the Registry.

  17. GET RID OF QUICK ACCESS ON FILE EXPLORER

    on the Run menu type regedit, click ok

    find

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE\Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer

    right click explorer, create a new DWORD (32 Bit)

    name it HubMode, enter

    double click it and enter value = 1

    restart explorer . Job done !

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