How To Deactivate Quick Access In Windows 10

Quick Access is a feature in Windows 10 that allows users to easily access frequently used files and folders. It is located in the left-hand pane of File Explorer and displays a list of recently opened files, as well as commonly used folders, such as Downloads, Documents, and Pictures. While Quick Access can be a convenient tool, some users may find it distracting or unnecessary. If you are one of those users, you can easily deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10.

There are two ways to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10. The first method is to use the File Explorer settings. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the "View" tab. In the "Navigation pane" section, uncheck the "Show Quick access" checkbox. This will disable Quick Access in File Explorer.

How to Deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10

Follow these steps to easily disable Quick Access in Windows 10:

Open File Explorer.
Click the "View" tab.
Uncheck "Show Quick access".
Right-click Start.
Select "Settings".
Click "Personalization".
Choose "Start".
Turn off "Show recently opened items".
Restart File Explorer.

By following these steps, you can easily deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10 and streamline your File Explorer experience.

Open File Explorer.

To deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10, the first step is to open File Explorer. File Explorer is the default file manager in Windows, and it allows you to browse files and folders on your computer.

Locate File Explorer:
There are several ways to open File Explorer. One way is to click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar. If you don't see the File Explorer icon, you can press the Windows key + E to open it.
Use the Run command:
Another way to open File Explorer is to use the Run command. To do this, press the Windows key + R, type "explorer" in the Run dialog box, and then click "OK".
Right-click on the Start button:
You can also open File Explorer by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "File Explorer" from the menu.
Use the keyboard shortcut:
If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, you can press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.

Once you have opened File Explorer, you can proceed to the next step of deactivating Quick Access.

Click the "View" tab.

Once you have opened File Explorer, the next step is to click on the "View" tab located in the ribbon at the top of the window.

Locate the "View" tab:
The ribbon is a toolbar that contains a variety of tabs, each of which provides access to different commands and options. The "View" tab is typically located next to the "Home" tab.
Click on the "View" tab:
Once you have located the "View" tab, click on it to open the "View" ribbon. The "View" ribbon contains a variety of options that allow you to customize the appearance and behavior of File Explorer.
Explore the "View" ribbon:
Take some time to explore the different options available on the "View" ribbon. You can use these options to change the layout of File Explorer, show or hide hidden files and folders, and customize the way that files and folders are displayed.
Proceed to the next step:
Once you have familiarized yourself with the "View" ribbon, you can proceed to the next step of deactivating Quick Access.

By clicking on the "View" tab, you will gain access to the options that allow you to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10.

Uncheck "Show Quick access".

Once you have clicked on the "View" tab, you will see a variety of options in the "Navigation pane" section of the ribbon. One of these options is "Show Quick access".

To deactivate Quick Access, you need to uncheck the "Show Quick access" checkbox. By default, this checkbox is checked, which means that Quick Access is enabled. When you uncheck the checkbox, Quick Access will be disabled and will no longer appear in the left-hand pane of File Explorer.

Here are some additional details about the "Show Quick access" checkbox:

Location: The "Show Quick access" checkbox is located in the "Navigation pane" section of the "View" ribbon in File Explorer.
Default setting: By default, the "Show Quick access" checkbox is checked, which means that Quick Access is enabled.
Effect of unchecking the checkbox: When you uncheck the "Show Quick access" checkbox, Quick Access will be disabled and will no longer appear in the left-hand pane of File Explorer.

By unchecking the "Show Quick access" checkbox, you can easily deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10 and streamline your File Explorer experience.

Once you have unchecked the "Show Quick access" checkbox, you can close File Explorer. The changes you have made will be saved automatically.

Right-click Start.

Another way to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10 is to use the Settings app. To do this, you need to right-click on the Start button and select "Settings" from the menu.

Locate the Start button:
The Start button is located in the bottom-left corner of the screen. It is typically represented by a Windows logo.
Right-click on the Start button:
Once you have located the Start button, right-click on it to open the Start menu.
Select "Settings":
In the Start menu, click on the "Settings" icon. The Settings app will open.
Proceed to the next step:
Once you have opened the Settings app, you can proceed to the next step of deactivating Quick Access.

By right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Settings", you can access the Settings app, which allows you to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10.

Select "Settings".

Once you have right-clicked on the Start button and opened the Start menu, the next step is to select the "Settings" icon.

Locate the "Settings" icon:
The "Settings" icon is typically located in the bottom-left corner of the Start menu. It is represented by a gear icon.
Click on the "Settings" icon:
Once you have located the "Settings" icon, click on it to open the Settings app.
Wait for the Settings app to open:
The Settings app may take a few seconds to open. Once it is open, you will see a window with a variety of settings options.
Proceed to the next step:
Once the Settings app is open, you can proceed to the next step of deactivating Quick Access.

By selecting the "Settings" icon, you can open the Settings app, which allows you to access the necessary settings to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10.

Click "Personalization".

Once you have opened the Settings app, the next step is to click on the "Personalization" category.

Locate the "Personalization" category:
The "Personalization" category is typically located in the first row of the Settings app window.
Click on the "Personalization" category:
Once you have located the "Personalization" category, click on it to open the Personalization settings.
Wait for the Personalization settings to load:
The Personalization settings may take a few seconds to load. Once they are loaded, you will see a variety of options related to the appearance and behavior of Windows 10.
Proceed to the next step:
Once the Personalization settings are loaded, you can proceed to the next step of deactivating Quick Access.

By clicking on the "Personalization" category, you can access the settings that allow you to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10.

Choose "Start".

Once you have opened the Personalization settings, the next step is to choose the "Start" option.

The "Start" option is located in the left-hand pane of the Personalization settings window. It is typically the first option listed.

Clicking on the "Start" option will open the Start settings. The Start settings allow you to customize the appearance and behavior of the Start menu.

To deactivate Quick Access, you need to find the "Show recently opened items" setting and turn it off.

Here are the steps on how to find and turn off the "Show recently opened items" setting:

In the Start settings, scroll down to the "Privacy" section.
Under the "Privacy" section, find the "Show recently opened items" setting.
Click on the slider next to the "Show recently opened items" setting to turn it off.

Once you have turned off the "Show recently opened items" setting, Quick Access will be deactivated in Windows 10.

You can now close the Settings app. The changes you have made will be saved automatically.

Turn off "Show recently opened items".

To turn off the "Show recently opened items" setting, follow these steps:

In the Start settings, scroll down to the "Privacy" section.
Under the "Privacy" section, find the "Show recently opened items" setting.
Click on the slider next to the "Show recently opened items" setting to turn it off.

Here are some additional details about the "Show recently opened items" setting:

Location: The "Show recently opened items" setting is located in the Start settings, under the "Privacy" section.
Default setting: By default, the "Show recently opened items" setting is turned on. This means that recently opened items will be displayed in the Start menu.
Effect of turning off the setting: When you turn off the "Show recently opened items" setting, recently opened items will no longer be displayed in the Start menu.

By turning off the "Show recently opened items" setting, you can deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10 and prevent recently opened items from being displayed in the Start menu.

Once you have turned off the "Show recently opened items" setting, you can close the Settings app. The changes you have made will be saved automatically.

Restart File Explorer.

After you have turned off the "Show recently opened items" setting, it is recommended to restart File Explorer. This will ensure that the changes you have made take effect.

Right-click on the taskbar:
To restart File Explorer, right-click on the taskbar.
Select "Task Manager":
In the context menu that appears, select "Task Manager".
Locate File Explorer:
In the Task Manager window, find the "File Explorer" process.
Restart File Explorer:
Right-click on the "File Explorer" process and select "Restart".

Once you have restarted File Explorer, Quick Access will be completely deactivated in Windows 10.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10:

Question 1: What is Quick Access?

Answer: Quick Access is a feature in Windows 10 that allows users to easily access frequently used files and folders. It is located in the left-hand pane of File Explorer and displays a list of recently opened files, as well as commonly used folders, such as Downloads, Documents, and Pictures.

Question 2: Why would I want to deactivate Quick Access?

Answer: Some users may find Quick Access to be distracting or unnecessary. It can also be a security risk, as it allows anyone with access to your computer to see a list of your recently opened files.

Question 3: How can I deactivate Quick Access?

Answer: There are two ways to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10. The first method is to use the File Explorer settings. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the "View" tab. In the "Navigation pane" section, uncheck the "Show Quick access" checkbox. The second method is to use the Settings app. To do this, right-click on the Start button and select "Settings". Then, click on "Personalization" and select "Start". Under the "Privacy" section, turn off the "Show recently opened items" setting.

Question 4: Do I need to restart my computer after deactivating Quick Access?

Answer: No, you do not need to restart your computer after deactivating Quick Access. However, it is recommended to restart File Explorer to ensure that the changes take effect.

Question 5: Can I still access my recently opened files after deactivating Quick Access?

Answer: Yes, you can still access your recently opened files after deactivating Quick Access. You can do this by opening File Explorer and clicking on the "Recent" folder in the left-hand pane.

Question 6: How can I reactivate Quick Access if I change my mind?

Answer: To reactivate Quick Access, simply follow the steps above and check the "Show Quick access" checkbox in the File Explorer settings or turn on the "Show recently opened items" setting in the Settings app.

Closing Paragraph: These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about how to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10. If you have any other questions, please consult the Microsoft support website.

In addition to deactivating Quick Access, there are a few other things you can do to improve the privacy and security of your Windows 10 computer. These tips include:

Tips

Here are a few practical tips to help you improve the privacy and security of your Windows 10 computer:

Tip 1: Use a strong password.

One of the most important things you can do to protect your computer is to use a strong password. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Tip 2: Enable two-factor authentication.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to provide two forms of identification when you sign in. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access your accounts, even if they have your password.

Tip 3: Keep your software up to date.

Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. It is important to install software updates as soon as they are available.

Tip 4: Be careful about what you click on.

Phishing scams are a common way for hackers to trick people into giving up their personal information or infecting their computers with malware. Be careful about clicking on links in emails or text messages from people you don't know. If you're not sure whether a link is safe, hover over it with your mouse to see where it actually goes.

Closing Paragraph: By following these tips, you can help to protect your Windows 10 computer from hackers and other threats.

In conclusion, deactivating Quick Access is a simple but effective way to improve the privacy and security of your Windows 10 computer. By following the steps and tips outlined in this article, you can easily disable Quick Access and protect your personal information from unauthorized access.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to deactivate Quick Access in Windows 10. We have provided two methods for deactivating Quick Access: using the File Explorer settings and using the Settings app.

We have also provided a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about deactivating Quick Access, as well as some practical tips for improving the privacy and security of your Windows 10 computer.

Closing Message:

Deactivating Quick Access is a simple but effective way to improve the privacy and security of your Windows 10 computer. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable Quick Access and protect your personal information from unauthorized access.

We hope this article has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please consult the Microsoft support website.

Location:

Teknos