How to Clear Windows 10 Quick Access History in File Explorer
The Quick Access feature in Windows 10 lets you access frequently used files and folders easily. However, you might want to clear it out periodically.
Windows 10 introduces a new feature in File Explorer called “Quick Access”. It replaces the Favorites feature that was in previous versions of Windows. The new feature allows you easy access files and folder you frequently use, no matter their location, i.e., a network location or OneDrive.
Windows 10’s new Quick Access feature in File Explorer
Quick Access can make your workflow faster and improve productivity. It makes it so you don’t have to navigate to a file or folder that’s buried deep in a directory in the file system. However, you might want to delete the Quick Access history periodically if you want to help maintain some privacy or make a fresh start.
Clear Windows 10 Quick Access History
Click Start and type: file explorer options and hit Enter or click the option at the top of the search results.
Now in the Privacy section make sure both boxes are checked for recently used files and folder in Quick Access and click the Clear button.
That’s it. This comes in handy if you’re working on different projects and need to start off with a clean slate of new files and folders. It also helps your privacy by not showing the items you’re accessing a lot. When people are passing by or looking over your shoulder, you might not want certain things showing up.
If you’re not a fan of Quick Access, you can make Windows 10 open File Explorer to This PC instead.
For more about using File Explorer, check out our article on tips for managing files and folders in Windows 10.
What’s your opinion on the Quick Access view in Windows 10? Are you a fan or prefer the classic This PC view? Let us know in the comment section below.
11 Comments
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prabakaran
For the kind of work I do with the PC, THIS PC is sufficient. In addition the additional facility takes up Disk space, without producing tangible benefits.
arrow
A welcome post. I can see some value in Quick Access but after years of dealing with Windows versions I far prefer This PC, a value I am accustomed too,
Johan
THis really helped in fixing a persistent problem.
Tim
Thanks for your post – but wouldn’t it be shorter/easier to say
1. Right-click on Quick Access, selection Options, Click Clear?
RS
Uhu, workfiles. Lets just be honest here, we mainly use this procedure to hide other things. ;-)
bigbilly
THANK YOU! now my mom wont see the alarming amount of porn on my computer by accidentally clicking on my quick access to try to find innocent photos of my dog!
John IL
Sometimes I download video files to download folder. I delete them but the link to the file shows up still in Quick Access. Doesn’t seem to be helpful at all if it doesn’t recognize the file has been deleted off the local drive? I don’t use cloud storage and do not link OneDrive to my PC either. Nice I can just turn it off.
Simon
Seems to have helped with slow creation / renaming / deletion of folders
esa
Doesn’t work. Still appears above This PC list. (Latest Windows 10 version)
May
Quick Access makes things easier especially for those of us who deal with many files. I sure do not need to add them to favorites like in the past. I however would prefer to not see the files that are deleted.
Cary
“That’s it” isn’t quite right…
If the item(s) is ‘pinned’ IT WILL NOT BE REMOVED!
Must be ‘unpinned’, either before or after it is “cleared”.