Efficiently Eliminate Recent Files from Windows 10 Quick Access- A Step-by-Step Guide

How do I remove recent files from Quick Access?

Quick Access is a convenient feature in Windows that allows users to quickly access their most recently used files, folders, and frequently visited locations. However, there may be instances where 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 steps to remove recent files from Quick Access in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1: Open File Explorer

To begin, open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.

Step 2: Access Quick Access

Once File Explorer is open, you will see a sidebar on the left side of the window. Click on the “Quick Access” section to view your recent files and frequently visited locations.

Step 3: Right-click on a recent file

Locate a recent file or folder that you want to remove from Quick Access. Right-click on it and select “Properties” from the context menu.

Step 4: Uncheck “Allow this file to appear in Quick Access”

In the Properties window, navigate to the “General” tab. You will find an option called “Allow this file to appear in Quick Access.” Uncheck this box to remove the file from Quick Access.

Step 5: Remove multiple files at once

If you want to remove multiple recent files from Quick Access at once, you can follow the same steps for each file. Alternatively, you can select all the files you want to remove by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each file. Then, right-click on any of the selected files and choose “Properties.” Uncheck the “Allow this file to appear in Quick Access” box for all the selected files.

Step 6: Clear the Quick Access history

If you want to remove all recent files from Quick Access and start fresh, you can clear the Quick Access history. To do this, click on the “Clear” button in the File Explorer sidebar under the “Quick Access” section. This will remove all recent files and folders from Quick Access, and they will no longer appear in the sidebar.

Step 7: Prevent future files from appearing in Quick Access

To prevent future files from appearing in Quick Access, you can adjust the settings. Click on the “Settings” gear icon in the File Explorer sidebar, then select “Change how we navigate to files and folders.” In the “Show recently used files in Quick Access” section, you can choose to “Off” to disable this feature.

By following these steps, you can easily remove recent files from Quick Access in Windows 10 and Windows 11. This will help you maintain privacy and keep your system organized.