How to Remove Recent Files in Quick Access
In today’s fast-paced digital world, the Quick Access feature in Windows has become an indispensable tool for users to quickly access their recently used files and folders. However, there may be instances when you want to remove these recent files from Quick Access to maintain privacy or declutter your system. In this article, we will guide you through the process of how to remove recent files in Quick Access on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Step 1: Open File Explorer
To begin, open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E.
Step 2: Access Quick Access
Once File Explorer is open, you will see the Quick Access panel on the left side of the window. This panel displays your recent files, frequently used folders, and other shortcuts.
Step 3: Right-click on a Recent File
To remove a specific recent file from Quick Access, right-click on the file you want to delete. A context menu will appear.
Step 4: Select ‘Remove from Quick Access’
In the context menu, select ‘Remove from Quick Access’. This action will immediately remove the selected file from the Quick Access panel.
Step 5: Clear All Recent Files
If you want to remove all recent files from Quick Access at once, you can do so by clicking on the ‘Clear’ button located at the bottom of the Quick Access panel. This will clear the entire list of recent files, giving you a fresh start.
Step 6: Disable Quick Access
If you find that the Quick Access feature is too intrusive or you simply want to disable it, you can do so by following these steps:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the ‘View’ tab at the top of the window.
3. In the ‘Layout’ group, click on ‘Options’.
4. In the ‘Folder Options’ window, go to the ‘View’ tab.
5. Under the ‘Advanced settings’ section, scroll down and uncheck the box next to ‘Show recently used files in Quick Access’.
6. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to save the changes.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage your Quick Access panel and maintain a clean and organized workspace on your Windows system.
