How to Deactivate Quick Access

Quick Access is a feature in Microsoft Windows that allows users to quickly access recently opened files and folders. The Quick Access section is located in the left-hand pane of File Explorer and displays a list of frequently used folders, as well as recently opened files. While this feature can be convenient for quickly accessing frequently used files, some users may find it distracting or unnecessary.

If you find that you do not use the Quick Access feature, or if you simply want to remove it from File Explorer, there are a few steps you can follow to deactivate it. The process is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few minutes.

To begin, open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E. Once File Explorer is open, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon at the top of the window. In the "Show/Hide" section of the ribbon, uncheck the box next to "Quick access".

How to Deactivate Quick Access

Follow these steps to deactivate Quick Access in File Explorer.

• Open File Explorer.
• Click the "View" tab.
• Uncheck "Quick access".
• Click "Apply" and "OK".
• Restart File Explorer.
• Quick Access is now deactivated.
• Enjoy a cleaner File Explorer.
• Customize File Explorer to your liking.
• Boost your productivity.

By following these steps, you can easily deactivate Quick Access in File Explorer and enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined user interface.

Open File Explorer.

To begin the process of deactivating Quick Access, you must first open File Explorer. There are several ways to do this:

• Press the Windows key + E. This is the most common and straightforward method.
• Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar. The File Explorer icon looks like a yellow folder.
• Right-click on the Start button and select "Open File Explorer." This method is useful if your taskbar is hidden.
• Use the Cortana search bar. Type "File Explorer" into the Cortana search bar and click on the result.

Once you have opened File Explorer, you are ready to proceed to the next step.

Once File Explorer is open, 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 in the ribbon at the top of the window. The ribbon is the horizontal toolbar that contains all of the commands and options for File Explorer.

The "View" tab contains a variety of options for customizing the appearance and behavior of File Explorer. These options include the ability to change the layout of the window, show or hide different items, and configure various settings.

To deactivate Quick Access, you need to find the "Show/Hide" section of the ribbon. This section is located on the right-hand side of the ribbon, next to the "Layout" section.

In the "Show/Hide" section, you will see a checkbox labeled "Quick access". This checkbox is enabled by default, which means that Quick Access is currently active.

To deactivate Quick Access, simply uncheck the "Quick access" checkbox. Once you have unchecked the checkbox, click on the "Apply" button and then the "OK" button to save your changes.

Uncheck "Quick access".

To deactivate Quick Access, you need to uncheck the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section of the ribbon in File Explorer.

• Locate the "Quick access" checkbox: Once you have opened File Explorer and clicked on the "View" tab, find the "Show/Hide" section on the right-hand side of the ribbon. The "Quick access" checkbox is located in this section.
• Uncheck the "Quick access" checkbox: To deactivate Quick Access, simply click on the "Quick access" checkbox to remove the checkmark. This will disable Quick Access and remove it from the left-hand pane of File Explorer.
• Click on the "Apply" button: After you have unchecked the "Quick access" checkbox, click on the "Apply" button to save your changes. This will immediately deactivate Quick Access.
• Click on the "OK" button: Finally, click on the "OK" button to close the Folder Options dialog box. Your changes will be saved and Quick Access will be permanently deactivated.

Once you have unchecked the "Quick access" checkbox and clicked on the "Apply" and "OK" buttons, Quick Access will be deactivated and removed from File Explorer. You can now enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined user interface.

Click "Apply" and "OK".

After you have unchecked the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section of the ribbon, you need to click on the "Apply" button to save your changes. Once you have clicked on the "Apply" button, you will see a message at the bottom of the File Explorer window that says "Settings saved." This message indicates that your changes have been successfully applied.

However, the changes will not be permanent until you click on the "OK" button to close the Folder Options dialog box. If you simply close the File Explorer window without clicking on the "OK" button, your changes will be discarded and Quick Access will remain active.

Therefore, it is important to click on both the "Apply" button and the "OK" button to ensure that your changes are saved and that Quick Access is permanently deactivated.

Once you have clicked on the "OK" button, Quick Access will be immediately deactivated and removed from the left-hand pane of File Explorer. You can now enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined user interface.

Restart File Explorer.

In some cases, you may need to restart File Explorer for the changes to take effect. This is especially true if Quick Access is still visible in the left-hand pane of File Explorer after you have unchecked the "Quick access" checkbox and clicked on the "Apply" and "OK" buttons.

• Right-click on the taskbar: To restart File Explorer, right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the context menu.
• Locate File Explorer: In the Task Manager window, find the "Windows Explorer" process. It is usually listed under the "Processes" tab.
• Restart File Explorer: Right-click on the "Windows Explorer" process and select "Restart" from the context menu. This will restart File Explorer and the changes you made to Quick Access will take effect.
• Alternatively, you can also restart File Explorer by using the following keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager. Then, press the letter "E" to restart File Explorer.

Once you have restarted File Explorer, Quick Access should be completely deactivated and removed from the left-hand pane. You can now enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined user interface.

Quick Access is now deactivated.

Once you have unchecked the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section of the ribbon, clicked on the "Apply" and "OK" buttons, and restarted File Explorer (if necessary), Quick Access will be completely deactivated.

This means that the Quick Access section will be removed from the left-hand pane of File Explorer. You will no longer see a list of recently opened files and folders in this section.

Additionally, the Quick Access toolbar will be removed from the top of the File Explorer window. This toolbar contains buttons for quickly accessing frequently used folders and commands.

With Quick Access deactivated, you will have a cleaner and more streamlined File Explorer window. You can now focus on the files and folders that are most important to you, without the distraction of Quick Access.

If you ever want to reactivate Quick Access, you can simply follow the same steps in reverse. Open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab, and then check the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section.

Enjoy a cleaner File Explorer.

With Quick Access deactivated, you will now have a cleaner and more streamlined File Explorer window. This can be beneficial for a number of reasons:

• Reduced clutter: Without Quick Access, the left-hand pane of File Explorer will be less cluttered. This can make it easier to find the files and folders that you are looking for.
• Improved focus: With the distractions of Quick Access removed, you can now focus on the files and folders that are most important to you. This can help you to be more productive.
• Simplified navigation: With Quick Access deactivated, the navigation pane in File Explorer will be simpler and easier to use. This can make it easier to browse through your files and folders.
• More screen space: With Quick Access removed, you will have more screen space available to view your files and folders. This can be especially beneficial if you are working on a small screen.

Overall, deactivating Quick Access can help you to have a more efficient and productive File Explorer experience.

Customize File Explorer to your liking.

With Quick Access deactivated, you now have the opportunity to customize File Explorer to your liking. There are a number of ways to do this, including:

• Change the layout of the window: You can change the layout of the File Explorer window to suit your preferences. For example, you can choose to have the navigation pane on the left or right side of the window, or you can hide the navigation pane altogether.
• Show or hide different items: You can also choose to show or hide different items in File Explorer. For example, you can show or hide the status bar, the details pane, and the ribbon. You can also choose to hide certain types of files and folders.
• Configure various settings: There are a number of different settings that you can configure in File Explorer. For example, you can change the default view for files and folders, you can change the way that File Explorer handles file associations, and you can change the keyboard shortcuts for various commands.
• Use add-ons: There are a number of add-ons available for File Explorer that can add new features and functionality. For example, you can find add-ons that allow you to preview files, add tabs to File Explorer, and synchronize your files with cloud storage services.

By customizing File Explorer, you can create a more efficient and productive work environment that is tailored to your specific needs.

Once you have customized File Explorer to your liking, you can enjoy a more efficient and productive file management experience.

Boost your productivity.

By deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer to your liking, you can boost your productivity in a number of ways:

• Reduced distractions: Without Quick Access, you will have fewer distractions in File Explorer. This can help you to focus on the files and folders that are most important to you, and to be more productive.
• Improved navigation: With Quick Access deactivated, the navigation pane in File Explorer will be simpler and easier to use. This can make it easier to browse through your files and folders, and to find the files that you are looking for more quickly.
• More efficient file management: By customizing File Explorer to your liking, you can create a more efficient work environment that is tailored to your specific needs. This can help you to manage your files more efficiently and to be more productive.
• Increased satisfaction: When you have a File Explorer that is customized to your liking, you are more likely to be satisfied with your work environment. This can lead to increased productivity and motivation.

Overall, deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer to your liking can help you to be more productive and efficient in your work.

FAQ

The following are some frequently asked questions about how to deactivate Quick Access in File Explorer:

Question 1: How do I deactivate Quick Access?

Answer 1: To deactivate Quick Access, open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon, and then uncheck the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section. Click on the "Apply" and "OK" buttons to save your changes.

Question 2: Why should I deactivate Quick Access?

Answer 2: There are a few reasons why you might want to deactivate Quick Access. For example, you may find it distracting or unnecessary. Additionally, deactivating Quick Access can help to improve performance and reduce clutter in File Explorer.

Question 3: Will deactivating Quick Access affect my ability to access my files?

Answer 3: No, deactivating Quick Access will not affect your ability to access your files. You will still be able to browse through your files and folders in the same way that you did before.

Question 4: How can I customize File Explorer after deactivating Quick Access?

Answer 4: There are a number of ways to customize File Explorer after deactivating Quick Access. For example, you can change the layout of the window, show or hide different items, and configure various settings. You can also use add-ons to add new features and functionality to File Explorer.

Question 5: Will deactivating Quick Access make File Explorer more efficient?

Answer 5: Yes, deactivating Quick Access can help to improve the performance of File Explorer. This is because Quick Access can sometimes slow down File Explorer, especially if you have a large number of recently opened files and folders.

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

Answer 6: Yes, you can reactivate Quick Access at any time. Simply follow the same steps that you used to deactivate Quick Access, but this time, check the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section.

Closing Paragraph for FAQ:

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

In addition to the information provided in the FAQ, here are a few additional tips for deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer:

Tips

Here are a few practical tips for deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer:

Tip 1: Use the keyboard shortcut.

If you want to quickly deactivate Quick Access, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Q. This will immediately hide the Quick Access section in the left-hand pane of File Explorer.

Tip 2: Customize the Quick Access toolbar.

If you find that you use certain folders or commands frequently, you can add them to the Quick Access toolbar. To do this, simply right-click on the item and select "Pin to Quick Access Toolbar." You can also rearrange the order of the items on the toolbar by dragging and dropping them.

Tip 3: Change the default view for files and folders.

You can change the default view for files and folders in File Explorer to suit your preferences. For example, you can choose to view files and folders in a list, a grid, or a details view. To change the default view, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon and select the desired view from the "Change View" drop-down menu.

Tip 4: Use add-ons to enhance File Explorer.

There are a number of add-ons available for File Explorer that can add new features and functionality. For example, you can find add-ons that allow you to preview files, add tabs to File Explorer, and synchronize your files with cloud storage services. To find add-ons for File Explorer, simply search for "File Explorer add-ons" in your preferred search engine.

Closing Paragraph for Tips:

By following these tips, you can deactivate Quick Access, customize File Explorer to your liking, and boost your productivity.

In conclusion, deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer can help you to create a more efficient and productive work environment. By following the steps and tips outlined in this article, you can easily deactivate Quick Access and customize File Explorer to suit your specific needs.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to deactivate Quick Access in File Explorer and customize File Explorer to your liking. We have also provided some tips for getting the most out of File Explorer.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily deactivate Quick Access and customize File Explorer to suit your specific needs. This can help you to create a more efficient and productive work environment.

Here is a summary of the main points:

• To deactivate Quick Access, open File Explorer, click on the "View" tab in the ribbon, and then uncheck the "Quick access" checkbox in the "Show/Hide" section.
• You may need to restart File Explorer for the changes to take effect.
• Once Quick Access is deactivated, you can customize File Explorer to your liking by changing the layout of the window, showing or hiding different items, and configuring various settings.
• You can also use add-ons to enhance File Explorer with new features and functionality.

Closing Message:

By deactivating Quick Access and customizing File Explorer, you can create a more efficient and productive work environment that is tailored to your specific needs. We encourage you to experiment with different settings and options to find the perfect setup for your workflow.

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