How to use Quick access in File Explorer on Windows 10

On Windows 10, whenever y'all open File Explorer, yous're presented with the Quick admission view, which includes your frequent folder navigations every bit well as a list of your contempo files. Also, the feature can show the folders you access about often from the left pane.

If you spend a lot of time browsing content with File Explorer, on Windows 10, you lot can customize the Quick access experience to improve the usability. For instance, since frequent folders are added dynamically, you can add or remove items manually. You lot can clear the Quick admission history for files and folders. If you prefer not to open the Quick access view every time you open File Explorer, you lot tin change it to open up This PC instead, and more than.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk y'all through the steps to use Quick access with File Explorer.

How to add and remove folders to Quick access in File Explorer
How to testify only manually pinned folders to Quick access in File Explorer
How to open on This PC instead of Quick access in File Explorer
How to clear Quick access history in File Explorer
How to reset folders to Quick admission in File Explorer
How to customize Quick access toolbar in File Explorer

How to add and remove folders to Quick access in File Explorer

To add or remove locations to Quick access in File Explorer, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Browse to the location with the folder you desire to pivot to Quick access.
Select the folder.
(Option 1) Click the Pivot to Quick admission button from the "Home" tab.

Source: Windows Fundamental
(Option 2) Right-click the folder and select the Pivot to Quick admission option to list in the left pane.

Source: Windows Central
(Option three) Under the "Quick access" department, correct-click a contempo folder from the list and select the Pin to Quick access option to keep the location in the list.

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Nether the "Quick admission" section, right-click the folder and select the Unpin from Quick access choice to remove it.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: Alternatively, you can select the Quick access push button from the left pane, right-click an item from the right side, and select the Unpin from Quick access option.

Once yous complete the steps, you may need to echo the steps to add together or remove more items as needed.

How to prove only manually pinned folders to Quick access in File Explorer

On Windows 10, Quick access tin can testify folders that you often accessed folders and folders you've pinned manually. If you desire to show only manually pinned locations, then use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Click the Options button from the "View" tab.

Source: Windows Key
Click the General tab.
Nether the "Privacy" section, clear the Show frequently used folders in Quick access option.

Source: Windows Primal
(Optional) Clear the Bear witness recently used files in Quick access option to remove recently accessed files.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

After you consummate the steps, only manually pinned items will announced in the navigation pane.

How to open on This PC instead of Quick access in File Explorer

When yous open File Explorer, past default, you're directed to the Quick access view that shows you frequent folders and recent files. If you prefer to start in the This PC view that shows a listing of all the drives, network locations, and profile folders, y'all tin can modify this behavior from the Folder Options page.

To change the kickoff location in File Explorer, apply these steps:

Open up File Explorer.
Click the Options button from the "View" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Use the "Open up File Explorer to" drop-down carte du jour and select the This PC option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK push.

Once you complete the steps, File Explorer volition open up on This PC for faster admission to your files, local drives, and network shares.

How to articulate Quick admission history in File Explorer

In the case that you want Quick access to prove files and folders, but you want to clear the electric current history, you can use these steps:

Open up File Explorer.
Click the Options button from the "View" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Under the "Privacy" section, click the Clear button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Use button.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, Quick access will go along to prove recent files and frequent folders, but the current history volition exist deleted.

How to reset folders to Quick admission in File Explorer

Although yous can clear the history of recent files and frequent folders and restore the default settings, the "Folders Options" page doesn't include an option to completely reset the feature, including removing all manually pinned items.

This arroyo to reset the feature will commonly come in handy when you're trying to ready problems with Quick access. Or when you demand to unpin locations pointing to network folders that are no longer bachelor, since when trying to remove not-existing locations can crusade File Explorer to freeze for a long fourth dimension.

If you lot want to reset Quick access in File Explorer, employ these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Control Prompt, right-click the height result, and select the Run as Administrator option.
Type the following command and press Enter:

del /q /f %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*

Source: Windows Central
Blazon the following command and press Enter:

del /q /f %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*
Type the following command and press Enter:

del /q /f %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Contempo\CustomDestinations\*

Later on you complete the steps, all the history and manually pinned items will be removed from Quick access, and the default view when opening File Explorer should now be the Quick access page.

How to customize Quick access toolbar in File Explorer

File Explorer too includes the Quick Access Toolbar that gives you faster admission to specific commands, and you can customize the toolbar to show only the commands y'all use.

To add or remove items from the Quick Access toolbar, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Click the downwardly-pointer button from the elevation-left corner.
(Option 1) Check the button yous desire to see in the toolbar, for example, Undo, Redo, Properties, New Binder, or Rename.

Source: Windows Central
Repeat steps No. two and 3 to add or remove more buttons.
(Option 2) Correct-click any button from the ribbon menu, and select the Add to Quick Access toolbar option.

Source: Windows Cardinal

In addition to adding and removing commands, you can too relocate the toolbar below the ribbon card by right-clicking the toolbar and selecting the Testify Quick Access Toolbar below the Ribbon or Bear witness Quick Admission Toolbar in a higher place the Ribbon option.

More Windows ten resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions nigh Windows 10, visit the post-obit resources:

Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Cardinal

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