How to Remove Recent Files From Quick Access in Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Remove Files and Folders From Quick Access in File Explorer

If you want to remove only specific files or folders from Quick Access (or Home) in File Explorer, follow the below steps.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Eto open File Explorer on your PC and clickHomeorQuick Accesson the left sidebar.

Step 2:Locate and select the entry you want to delete. Hold down theCtrl keyto select multiple entries. Right-click on your selection and chooseRemove from Recentfrom the context menu.

Likewise, you can also remove any pinned folders. Right-click on the folder you want to remove and selectUnpin from Quick access.

Remove All Entries From Quick Access at Once

While it is simple to delete a file or folder from Quick Access in File Explorer using the method mentioned above, it is not the most efficient way to clear all the entries.

To delete all therecent files and foldersfrom Quick Access at once, use these steps:

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Sto open the search menu. Typefile explorer optionsin the search box and pressEnter.

Step 2:Go to theGeneraltab and click onClearnext to Clear File Explorer history.

Prevent File Explorer From Showing Recent Files and Folders in Quick Access

Don’t want to delete Quick Access entries manually all the time? If so, you can prevent Windows from adding files and folders to the Quick Access (or Home) section. Here’s how:

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Eto open the File Explorer > click thethree-dot menu iconat the top > selectOptions.

Step 2:In the File Explorer Options window, switch to theGeneraltab. Under the Privacy section, uncheck the boxes forShow recently used filesandShow frequently used folders. Then, hitApplyfollowed byOKto save changes.

After that,File Explorer won’t display any entriesin the Quick Access (or Home) section except for the folders you have pinned manually.

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Last updated on 05 June, 2024

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