How to stop folders from automatically adding into Quick access please?

Anonymous
2023-03-29T03:42:54+00:00

There is no "view ribbon". So please don't tell me to go there. Microsoft goes out of it's way to make things more difficult and less private with every new update.

There is no view tab nor view ribbon anywhere in file explorer so please miss me with the stock answers.

There is a view pulldown and a sort pulldown and three dots. Those are the only things clickable on file explorer and none of them have anthing to do with quick access or any other intrusion of privacy.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2023-03-29T04:38:06+00:00

Hi! I'm Laurice, an Independent Advisor. I am more than happy to help you out. :)

File Explorer adds these folders that you often use. To stop the folders from showing in Quick Access:

  1. Click the See more menu (the three dots icon) and select Options.
  2. On the Folder Options dialog, make sure the General tab is active.
  3. In the Privacy section, uncheck the Show frequently used folders and Show recently used files in Quick Access in Quick Access box.
  4. Click Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.

Click OK.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-09T08:18:02+00:00

    Very helpful! Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-09T08:20:30+00:00

    Very insightful with easy to follow instructions. Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-14T23:48:36+00:00

    Sorry, but how the heck do we make sure that the General tab is "active"?

    I'm guessing you what you meant to say was

    "1. Click the first three dots on the 2nd row of Explorer (btw, Explorer has THREE sets of dots on TWO bars, maddening - STOP with all the stupid dots please!),

    1. Select Options from the drop down menu,
    2. Then click the General tab in the Folders Options popup (notice that "Options" is now called "Folders Options" - no one is checking for inconsistencies anymore), then
    3. Uncheck "Show Frequently used folders"?

    If so, this does not work. File Explorer still shows the dumb folders in "Home". Even worse, Office programs show them as "pinned folders" and there doesn't seem to be anything we can do to stop that. Microsoft keeps making all these unnecessary, unwanted & unhelpful "improvements". Seriously, it's like they put a bunch of hyperactive 12 year olds in charge of their designs.

    p.s., don't bother telling me to submit feedback - all the links to Feedback in Office don't work.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-21T04:48:17+00:00

    Thank you, Laurice. This was very helpful.

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