[Tip] Restore Classic This PC View in Windows 11 File Explorer
When you open File Explorer in Windows 11, it opens in “Quick Access” view by default. This article will help you in launching Windows 11 File Explorer in classic “This PC” view containing drives icons.
Whenever you open This PC (File Explorer or Windows Explorer) in Windows 11 by clicking on its Desktop icon, pinned icon on Taskbar or by pressing WIN+E keys together, it always opens in Quick Access view by default. Quick Access view is also known as Home view which displays following stuff in File Explorer:
- User folders at top
- Recently used files
- Frequently used folders
Following screenshot shows File Explorer opened in Quick Access view in Windows 11:
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PS: The same behavior is present in Windows 10 File Explorer. (More Details)
If you don’t like the Quick Access view and want to disable it, this tutorial will help you. Windows 11 allows users to open File Explorer in classic This PC view in which all hard disk drives are displayed similar to good ol’ My Computer present in Windows XP, etc.
You can force Windows 11 to always open File Explorer in This PC view by modifying a single option. No need to modify Registry or Group Policy.
If you also want to remove Quick Access view in Windows 11 File Explorer due to privacy reasons and want to bring back classic This PC view, following steps will help you:
1. Open File Explorer window and click on 3-dots Menu button present at the end of the toolbar. Now click on Options present in the menu. It’ll open Folder Options window.
2. To disable Quick Access view and restore classic view in Windows 11 File Explorer, select “This PC” option using the drop-down box given next to “Open File Explorer to” option.
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Apply changes and it’ll immediately apply the old This PC view as default in Windows 11 File Explorer. Now whenever you’ll open File Explorer, you’ll always have disk drives page.
PS: If you don’t want to disable Quick Access view in File Explorer but want to remove frequent folders and recent files list only, you can uncheck following 2 options present under Privacy section in Folder Options window:
- 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 Windows 11 File Explorer.
BONUS TIP: If you also want to remove the unnecessary user folders “Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures and Videos” from Windows 11 File Explorer, following tutorial will help you:
How to Remove User Folders from File Explorer in Windows 10 and 11
Also Check:
[Tip] Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11
[Tip] Decrease Icons Spacing in Windows 11 File Explorer by Enabling Compact View Mode
How to Disable Snap Layouts Flyout on Maximize Button in Windows 11
Again doing this does not disable or remove the Quick Access folder it only changes your file folder to open into my PC instead of Quick Access but the Quick Access folder will still be there at the top and it will still be usable it won’t be removed. The only way to remove Quick Access from your files folder in windows 11 is to change your computers registry settings to delete the folder completely and that my be more trouble than it is worth because if you do it wrong you may need a new computer.