How to Disable Quick Access Menu in Windows 10/11
The Quick Access menu in Windows File Manager is a handy feature that saves shortcuts to recently opened files and folders on your computer. While it can be useful for quickly accessing recent files, some users may want to disable it for privacy and clutter reasons. In this article, we will explore how to disable the Quick Access menu in Windows 10/11 and clear any logged activity.
Why Disable Quick Access Menu in Windows
The Windows File Manager is known for its efficiency and user-friendly interface. The Quick Access menu, represented by a star symbol in the sidebar, acts as a bookmarking feature for frequently accessed files and folders. However, there are two main reasons why users may want to disable it:
- Privacy: Users may not want their private or sensitive files and folders appearing in the Quick Access menu, especially if someone is watching over their shoulder.
- Clutter: Having too many folders in the Quick Access menu can make it crowded and difficult to navigate.
How to Disable Quick Access Menu Logging
To disable the Quick Access menu in Windows and prevent File Explorer from logging and displaying recently opened files and folders, follow these steps:
- Press
Windows+E
to open the File Explorer window. By default, it opens in the Quick Access folder. Click on the three-dot menu icon and selectOptions
. - In the pop-up menu, under the
General
tab, uncheck both theShow recently used files in Quick access
andShow frequently used folders in Quick access
options. - Click on
Apply
to save the changes.
Note: The steps mentioned above are specifically for Windows 11. If you are using Windows 10, the steps may slightly differ. You will need to click on File > Change folder and search options
to access the Folder Options.
How to Delete Recent Files/Folders from Quick Access Menu
Disabling logging in the Quick Access menu stops new files and folders from being logged, but it does not remove any previously logged activity. To delete recent files and folders from the Quick Access menu, follow these steps:
- Open
Folder Options
as mentioned in the previous section. - Under the
General
tab, click on theClear
button.
How to Disable Quick Access Completely
If you want to completely remove the Quick Access menu from the File Explorer sidebar, you can do so by following these steps:
- Search for
Registry Editor
in the Start menu and click onRun as administrator
to open it. - Navigate to the following folder structure:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}ShellFolder
. - Right-click on the
ShellFolder
and selectPermissions
. - Click on the
Advanced
button in the pop-up window. - In the next pop-up, click on
Change
next to theOwner
heading. - Click on the
Advanced
button. - Click on
Find Now
. - Select
Administrators
from the search results and clickOK
in each pop-up until you are back in the Registry Editor. - Double-click on the
Attributes
folder insideShellFolder
and change theValue data
toa0600000
.
Wrap Up: Disable Quick Access Menu
In conclusion, the Quick Access menu in Windows File Explorer provides various options to customize its functionality. Users can clear browsing history, pin/unpin folders, and prevent File Explorer from logging any activity. However, if you prefer an alternative file manager, there are several third-party options available for Windows.

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