How do I prevent file explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access?

As IT administrators, it is important to control the computing environment of our users, especially when it comes to their file explorer. Quick Access, in particular, is a feature of Windows File Explorer that can be useful for quickly accessing recently used files, but it can also be a source of unwanted clutter. Fortunately, there are a few ways to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding items to Quick Access.

The first method to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access is to configure the “Do not show frequently used folders in Quick Access” policy setting. This policy setting will prevent File Explorer from tracking and displaying frequently used folders in Quick Access. To configure this policy setting, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Then double-click on the “Do not show frequently used folders in Quick Access” policy setting and select Enabled.

The second method to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access is to configure the “Do not show recently used files in Quick Access” policy setting. This policy setting will prevent File Explorer from tracking and displaying recently used files in Quick Access. To configure this policy setting, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Then double-click on the “Do not show recently used files in Quick Access” policy setting and select Enabled.

The third method to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access is to configure the “Do not show pinned items in Quick Access” policy setting. This policy setting will prevent File Explorer from displaying pinned items in Quick Access. To configure this policy setting, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Then double-click on the “Do not show pinned items in Quick Access” policy setting and select Enabled.

The fourth method to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access is to configure the “Do not show shared items in Quick Access” policy setting. This policy setting will prevent File Explorer from displaying shared items in Quick Access. To configure this policy setting, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Then double-click on the “Do not show shared items in Quick Access” policy setting and select Enabled.

These four policy settings can be used to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access. It is important to note that these policy settings will only take effect after the user logs off and logs back on. Additionally, these policy settings can be configured using other methods such as using the registry editor or using the Local Group Policy Editor.

In summary, there are several ways to prevent File Explorer from automatically adding things to Quick Access. The four policy settings listed above can be configured using the Group Policy Editor, the registry editor, or the Local Group Policy Editor. Keep in mind that the settings will only take effect after the user logs off and logs back on. With these methods, IT administrators can ensure that their users are not inundated with unwanted clutter in their file explorer.