Disable/Enable Quick Access From the File Explorer in Windows 10

Windows 10 is coming on 29th July 2015. There are many new features introduced in Windows 10. The User Interface of Windows 10 is new. In Windows 10 the Start menu returns. When people use any new Operating System they encounter some general problems with the new operating system, but as time passes they easily operate the new operating system. This article explains the quick access features in Windows 10.

Whenever we open the file explorer in Windows 10 then with it Quick Access is also opened. You will find this Quick Access in the left hand side of your Windows screen. The Quick Access has the shortcut of your favorite folders and files and it shows the recently opened programs. In Windows 10 there are many features in Quick Access. If you want to add a folder to Quick Access that you use regularly then simply drag and drop it into Quick Access. Another method is to right-click on the folder and click on the Pin to Quick Access to add the folder to Quick Access. So here I will explain how to remove Quick Access in Windows 10.

Step 1

Before doing this task, the first thing to do is to make some changes in the Folder option Properties. As I said here, go to the File Explorer. There you will see the view option. After clicking on the view you have the option icon and in this icon you have the Folder Option.


Figure 1: Option View

Now when you click on the change Folder and Search Option then there will be a new window opened. In this window you will see a tab named General. Click on the General tab. When you click on it you will see a drop down list. In this drop down list you have two options, one is Quick Access and the other is This PC. Choose This PC and click on the OK button.



Figure 2: Folder option

Step 2

Now here I will provide full control for the local Admin for using the Shell folder, by which we can modify the registery key. So please follow the given procedure.

Step 3

Press the Windows + R keys to open the run command in Administrator mode. When you press it you will get a window like this.



Figure 3: Run Command

Step 4

Now in this Run prompt please enter regedit and press the Enter key.

Step 5

When you press the Enter key a new window will be opened named Registry editor. It looks as in the following:



Figure 4: Registry Editor Window.

Now in the Registry Window go to the path HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}

When you go to that path then here you have a folder and under this path is ShellFolder as in the following:



Figure 5: Shell Folder

Step 6

Now we need to change the permission settings of the ShellFolder, so right-click on the ShellFolder. Here you have the Permission tab and under that you have the Advanced tab as in the following:



Figure 6: Permissions for Shell Folder

Step 7

Now click on the Advanced Tab. Then you have a new window named Advanced Security Settings For ShellFolder. Here you will see a link named Owner. On the front of owner you will see a change link as in the following:



Figure 7: Advanced Security Settings for Shell Folder

Now when you click on this change link then you will see a window as in the following:



Figure 8: Shell Folder Settings

In this picture you will see the Advanced button. Click on the Advanced button. Now again you will see a new window.



Figure 9: Select Users

In this select Users Window then you will see a Find Now button. When you click on the Find Now button then all the users that are available in the domain will be visible for you. Now you can choose the user that you want. As I show in the following picture.



Figure 10: Selected Users

After choosing the user as Administrator, click on the Apply button then OK.

Step 8

In the ShellFolder we will see a file named attributes. Just double-click on it and a new window appears. Now change its value a0100000 to a0600000. Finally click on the OK button.



Figure 11: Change Attribute Value

Step 9

Now simply restart your computer or laptop. Here you will see that your Quick Access View is disabled. Here one thing is noticeable, that sometimes when changing the Windows Registry problems occur. So before making changes to the Windows Registry please take a backup of your system. If you want to use Quick Access again then simply change the value of attributes from a0600000 to a0100000.

I hope this article will be helpful for the reader to disable the Quick Access in the Windows 10.