Add or Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10  

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    Add or Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10

    Add or Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10

    How to Add or Remove Recent files from Quick access in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    16 May 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Add or Remove Recent files from Quick access in Windows 10


    Windows 10 replaced Favorites from previous Windows with Quick access. The Quick access page is the shortest route to files you've been working on and folders you often use. These are your frequent folders and recent files.

    In Windows 10, File Explorer opens to Quick access by default which shows your Frequent folders and Recent files.
    • Frequent folders = Displays up to ten folders that you frequently opened on the system.
    • Recent files = Displays up to twenty files that you most recently opened.

    This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Recent files in Quick access in File Explorer for all users or only your account in Windows 10.

    When you hide or remove Recent files in Quick access, it will also clear its history.



    Contents

    • Option One: Hide or Show "Recent Files" in Quick Access for Your Account using File Explorer Options
    • Option Two: Hide or Show "Recent Files" in Quick Access for Your Account using a REG file
    • Option Three: Add or Remove "Recent Files" in Quick Access for All Users using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Quick access in Windows 10
    Add or Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10-quick_access.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    Hide or Show "Recent Files" in Quick Access for Your Account using File Explorer Options


    1 Open File Explorer Options.

    2 Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.


     3. To Show "Recent files" in Quick access

    This is the default settin.

    A) Turn on Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar in Settings.

    B) In the General tab under Privacy, check the Show recently used files in Quick access box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


     4. To Hide "Recent files" in Quick access

    A) In the General tab under Privacy, uncheck the Show recently used files in Quick access box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Add or Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10-file_explorer_options.png






    OPTION TWO

    Hide or Show "Recent Files" in Quick Access for Your Account using a REG file


    1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Show "Recent files" in Quick access

    This is the default setting.

    A) Turn on Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar in Settings.

    B) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Show_Recent_files_in_Quick_access.reg

    Download


     3. To Hide "Recent files" in Quick access

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Hide_Recent_files_in_Quick_access.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 If the Quick access is currently open, then refresh (F5) it or close and open it to apply.

    8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    Add or Remove "Recent Files" in Quick Access for All Users using a REG file


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

    Removing recent files using this option will override what users have set in Option One and Option One above.


    1 Do step 2, step 3, or step 4 below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Add "Recent files" to Quick access in 32-bit Windows 10

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    32-bit_Add_Recent_Files_to_Quick_access.reg

    Download


     3. To Add "Recent files" to Quick access in 64-bit Windows 10

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    64-bit_Add_Recent_Files_to_Quick_access.reg

    Download


     4. To Remove "Recent files" from Quick access

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Remove_Recent_Files_from_Quick_access.reg

    Download


    5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    8 If the Quick access is currently open, then refresh (F5) it or close and open it to apply.

    9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    If your recent files quick access setting keeps turning off, make sure this setting is turned on.
    SETTINGS->PERSONALIZATION->Start->"Show Recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar" set to ON

    Without this related setting, the checkbox will mysteriously reset to unchecked.

    Hope this helps someone.

    G._
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Gregg for sharing this. I have added it to the tutorial so that it will help others. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1
    w8
       #3

    interesting topic here,

    any ideas how to just "clean" the recent files from quick access but let the setting enabled ?
    i love the idea to just run a .reg file
    for example - when i open some documents from my usb drive on my parents computer i dont want to confuse them with my stuff

    thx
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello @raidZ, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    You could use the tutorial below clear recent files and frequent places from Quick Access, but it will clear all of them.

    Recent Items and Frequent Places - Reset and Clear

    To remove a single recent item, you could right click on it, and click/tap on "Remove from Quick access".

    Quick Access - Hide Specific File or Folder in Windows 10
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    win 10 64 bit
       #5

    Is it possible to recover items in the quick access list. I removed some but I want to get them back.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello ncinsguy, :)

    When you "Remove from Quick access" recent files, the files do not get deleted.

    The removed item will eventually automatically be added back to recent file if opened enough times.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 3
    win 10 64 bit
       #7

    That's the thing I don't know where the file location is so I can reopen it. I had it open but I don't remember the name either and I need it again now.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #8

    ncinsguy said:
    That's the thing I don't know where the file location is so I can reopen it. I had it open but I don't remember the name either and I need it again now.
    How long ago did you access it?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3
    win 10 64 bit
       #9

    this month
      My Computer


 

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