Windows 10 Quick access shows pinned folders plus frequently used folders and recent files. You can reduce or clear that content without trying to delete the Quick access system location itself.
- Open File Explorer and choose View > Options (or File > Change folder and search options, depending on the build).
- On the General tab, find the Privacy section.
- Clear the options to show recently used files and frequently used folders in Quick access if you do not want those lists populated.
- Choose Clear to remove the existing File Explorer history, then apply the changes.
Pinned folders are separate
A folder you deliberately pinned can remain even after history is cleared. Right-click an unwanted pinned folder and choose Unpin from Quick access.
Changing the File Explorer start page
Some Windows 10 versions let File Explorer open to This PC instead of Quick access. That changes what you see at launch but does not necessarily remove the navigation entry.
Avoid registry tweaks for cosmetic removal
Methods that try to erase Quick access from the navigation pane through undocumented registry changes can create side effects and are unnecessary if the real goal is privacy or reducing clutter. Windows 10 is also now outside standard support.
Clearing File Explorer history does not delete the underlying files. It removes the convenience/history entries that point to them, so you can still browse to those documents and folders normally afterward.
Because this guide concerns how to remove quick access in windows 10: a, verify the final state before removing backups, installers, old files, or recovery options that made the change reversible.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.