How to Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10

Protect your privacy by deleting files from File Explorer’s Quick Access

2 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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If you are aWindows 10user and you are wondering if you can remove the recent files stored in the Quick Access folder, then the answer to your question is ‘Yes’.

So, follow the steps listed below to learn how to remove recent files from Quick Access inWindows 10. All this will take just five minutes of your time.

What is Quick Access?

The Quick Access feature ofWindows 10also includes two categories of files: theFrequent foldersand also theRecent files, which is the one we will be focusing on in this article.

Seeing that a lot of the Windows 10 users want their privacy on the device to be as safe as possible, here’s how to delete or remove recent files fromFile Explorer‘s new feature Quick Access.

How can I remove recent files in Quick Access?

1. Disable recent files via Folder Options

Launch File Explorer.
Left click or tap on theFilefeature that is situated in the upper left side of the File Explorer window.

3.Left click or tap on theChange Folder and search optionsfeature.TheFolder Optionswindow should pop up.

Navigate to theGeneraltab, and then scroll down to thePrivacysection.

5.Uncheck the box next to theShow recently used files in Quick Accessfeature.

Note:If you are interested in disabling the frequently used folders feature as well, you need to uncheck the box next toShow frequently used folders in Quick Access.

After you unchecked the box, you will need to left click or tap on theApplybutton situated right at the bottom of the window.
Left click or tap on theOKbutton in order to close this window. And now you are done, you can go ahead and check if your recent files are disabled in Quick Access.

If you are looking to disable the Quick Access feature for recently used files, you can easily do this from within File Explorer’s options.

All you need to do is access theFolder Optionssettings window and uncheck theShow recently used filesin Quick accessfeature.

2. Manually delete files from Quick Access

If you want todelete files from Quick Access, here are the steps to follow:

I am sure that any user of the Windows operating system will manage to follow this tutorial in no more than 10 minutes of their time.

If you run into any issues along the way, write us in the comments section below and we will help you as soon as possible.

How to Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10#

What is Quick Access?#

How can I remove recent files in Quick Access?#

1. Disable recent files via Folder Options#

2. Manually delete files from Quick Access#

How to Remove Recent Files from Quick Access in Windows 10

What is Quick Access?

How can I remove recent files in Quick Access?

1. Disable recent files via Folder Options

2. Manually delete files from Quick Access