How to Hide Recent Files in Quick Access
In today’s digital age, the Quick Access feature in Windows has become an integral part of our daily computing experience. It provides quick and easy access to your recently used files, folders, and frequently visited locations. However, for some users, the Quick Access feature can become cluttered and overwhelming, especially if they are working on sensitive or personal documents. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to hide recent files in Quick Access, ensuring a cleaner and more organized workspace.
Step 1: Open File Explorer
To begin the process of hiding recent files in Quick Access, you first need to open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
Step 2: Access Quick Access Settings
Once File Explorer is open, click on the “View” tab at the top of the window. In the “Show/Hide” group, you will find an option called “Show recently used files in Quick Access.” Uncheck this box to hide recent files from Quick Access.
Step 3: Customize Quick Access
If you want to take things a step further and customize Quick Access to your liking, you can do so by clicking on the “Options” button in the upper-right corner of the File Explorer window. This will open the File Explorer Options dialog box.
In the “General” tab, you can choose to “Show all folders on the desktop” or “Show desktop icons” to organize your desktop. Additionally, you can adjust the number of recent files and folders displayed in Quick Access by changing the “Number of recent items to display” and “Number of frequent items to display” settings.
Step 4: Remove Specific Files from Quick Access
If you want to remove specific files from Quick Access without disabling the feature entirely, you can do so by right-clicking on the file and selecting “Unpin from Quick Access.” This will remove the file from the Quick Access list but will not affect other files or the feature itself.
Step 5: Use Third-Party Tools
For users who want more control over their Quick Access settings, there are third-party tools available that can help you manage and customize the feature further. These tools often provide additional options, such as the ability to hide specific file types or clear the Quick Access history with a single click.
In conclusion, hiding recent files in Quick Access is a simple and effective way to keep your workspace organized and secure. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily customize your Quick Access settings to suit your needs and preferences.
