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
1 Open File Explorer Options.
2 Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.
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)
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)
1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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