How to Stop Quick Access from Adding Folders in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you use File Explorer regularly in Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed the Quick Access section that appears at the top of the navigation pane. It’s a convenient feature that automatically lists your most frequently used folders and recently opened files — but sometimes, it can get messy.

Have you ever opened File Explorer only to see random folders appear in Quick Access, cluttering your view?

Don’t worry — you’re not alone. In this guide, we’ll show you how to stop Quick Access from adding folders automatically in Windows 11, using multiple methods — from simple settings tweaks to advanced file system adjustments.

Whether you want a cleaner File Explorer or full privacy, this step-by-step guide will help you take back control of Quick Access.

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🧭 Quick Summary: Key Takeaways

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What Is Quick Access in Windows 11?

Quick Access is a special feature in File Explorer that gives you easy access to your most-used folders and recently opened files. It appears at the top-left of File Explorer’s sidebar and replaces the old “Favorites” section from Windows 10.

It automatically updates itself by tracking your file usage history — meaning, every time you open a folder, it may get pinned automatically to Quick Access.

While this is convenient for some users, others find it invasive, cluttered, or annoying.

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Why You Might Want to Stop Quick Access from Adding Folders

Here are some common reasons users disable Quick Access’s automatic folder addition:

• 🧹 Declutter File Explorer — Keeps only your pinned folders visible.

• 🔒 Privacy — Stops others from seeing your recently used folders.

• ⚡ Performance — Speeds up File Explorer slightly by disabling history tracking.

• 🎯 Organization — Keeps Quick Access clean for specific, manually pinned folders only.

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Method 1: Unpin Folders from Quick Access Manually

If you just want to remove a few unwanted folders, the simplest approach is to unpin them manually.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer (Windows + E).

2. In the left sidebar, locate Quick Access.

3. Right-click any folder you want to remove.

4. Select Unpin from Quick access.

You can also drag folders out of Quick Access to remove them instantly.

✅ Tip: Pinned folders stay in Quick Access permanently until you remove them manually.

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Method 2: Disable “Show Frequently Used Folders” in Folder Options

If you want Windows 11 to stop automatically adding new folders, you can easily disable this in Folder Options.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer (Windows + E).

2. Click the three-dot (⋯) menu in the toolbar.

3. Select Options (opens Folder Options).

4. In the General tab, find the section Privacy at the bottom.

5. Uncheck both boxes:

   • ✅ “Show recently used files in Quick access”

   • ✅ “Show frequently used folders in Quick access”

6. Click Apply, then OK.

Now, Quick Access will stop adding new folders automatically.

💡 Optional: You can still manually pin folders by right-clicking them and selecting Pin to Quick access.

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Method 3: Clear Existing Quick Access History

After disabling folder tracking, it’s a good idea to clear your existing Quick Access data.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer Options (same as above).

2. Under the Privacy section, click Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.

3. Click Apply → OK.

✅ This removes all recently accessed files and folders from Quick Access instantly.

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Method 4: Disable Quick Access Completely via Registry Editor

If you want to go further and completely disable Quick Access so it doesn’t appear at all, you can modify the Windows Registry.

⚠️ Warning: Registry edits can affect system behavior. Always back up your registry before proceeding.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer


3. Right-click the Explorer folder → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.

4. Name the new entry:

   HubMode


5. Double-click it and set its value data to 1.

6. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

7. Restart File Explorer or your PC.

✅ Result: Quick Access will disappear completely from File Explorer, and no folders will be added automatically.

💡 To re-enable Quick Access, delete the HubMode value or set it to 0.

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Method 5: Disable Quick Access Using Group Policy (Windows 11 Pro & Enterprise)

If you’re running Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor to control Quick Access behavior.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer


3. Find the policy “Turn off the display of recent folders and files in Quick Access.”

4. Double-click it, select Enabled, and click OK.

Restart File Explorer — you’ll now see that Quick Access no longer updates itself.

✅ Note: This is the most reliable and enterprise-friendly way to stop Quick Access tracking.

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Method 6: Remove Quick Access from Navigation Pane (Optional)

If you prefer a minimalist File Explorer layout, you can hide Quick Access entirely.

Using Registry Editor:

1. Open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace


3. Find the key named:

   {679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}


4. Right-click and choose Delete.

5. Close Registry Editor and restart File Explorer.

Now Quick Access will no longer appear in the navigation pane.

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Method 7: Use Privacy Settings to Prevent Activity Tracking

Quick Access uses activity data to display frequently used items. You can reduce its tracking using Privacy & Security settings.

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).

2. Go to Privacy & security → Activity history.

3. Turn off:

   • ✅ “Store my activity history on this device.”

   • ✅ “Send my activity history to Microsoft.”

This reduces Windows’ tracking behavior across File Explorer and other apps.

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Method 8: Change Default Folder View (Optional Enhancement)

You can also change File Explorer’s default startup location to skip Quick Access entirely when you open it.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer Options.

2. Under the General tab → “Open File Explorer to:”

3. Change from Quick Access → This PC.

4. Click Apply → OK.

✅ From now on, File Explorer will open directly to “This PC,” bypassing Quick Access.

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Bonus: Create a Custom Favorites Section (Alternative to Quick Access)

If you still want quick folder access without automatic tracking, you can create your own Favorites section.

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer and create a folder (e.g., “My Shortcuts”).

2. Inside it, add shortcuts to your frequently used folders.

3. Pin this “My Shortcuts” folder to Quick Access manually.

Now you’ll have a static, manually controlled Quick Access alternative — no automatic changes.

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Troubleshooting Quick Access Issues

If Quick Access keeps adding folders even after you disable the settings, try these fixes:

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Performance and Privacy Benefits of Disabling Quick Access

💡 Users who disable Quick Access often report faster File Explorer launches and a more organized experience.

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🧩 Comparison: Manual vs. Registry vs. Group Policy

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🧰 Pro Tips for File Explorer Customization

• Use “This PC” as your default File Explorer startup page.

• Keep Quick Access pinned only to folders you use every day.

• Regularly clear File Explorer history for privacy.

• Use keyboard shortcuts like Win + E for faster navigation.

• Combine with Dark Mode for a cleaner interface.

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🧹 Optional: Reset File Explorer Settings to Default

If you ever need to revert changes:

1. Open File Explorer Options.

2. Go to the General tab.

3. Click Restore Defaults at the bottom.

4. Click Apply → OK.

This resets Quick Access and other File Explorer behaviors to their factory state.

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🏁 Conclusion: Take Control of Quick Access in Windows 11

Quick Access can be handy — but for many users, it’s a source of clutter and privacy concerns. Thankfully, Windows 11 gives you several ways to manage it.

You can stop Quick Access from adding folders automatically by changing a few settings in Folder Options, editing the registry, or using Group Policy. And if you want a cleaner experience, you can even hide Quick Access entirely and use “This PC” instead.

You now have full control over what appears in File Explorer — making Windows 11 faster, cleaner, and more private.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I completely remove Quick Access from Windows 11?

Yes. You can hide it using the Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor. For most users, disabling it in Folder Options is enough.

2. Why does Quick Access keep showing folders I didn’t pin?

Windows automatically adds frequently used folders unless you disable that feature in Folder Options.

3. Is it safe to edit the Windows Registry?

Yes, if you follow the exact steps carefully. Always back up your registry first.

4. Does disabling Quick Access affect File Explorer performance?

It can actually improve performance slightly, especially if you have a large number of files or network drives.

5. How do I restore Quick Access after removing it?

Just reverse the registry or Group Policy changes — or recheck the boxes under Folder Options → Privacy.

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✅ Key Takeaway:
You can easily stop Quick Access from adding folders in Windows 11 using built-in settings, Registry tweaks, or Group Policy. This gives you a cleaner, faster File Explorer with full control over what appears in your sidebar.