In Windows 10 , when you open File Explorer, by default it shows ‘Favorites‘, Frequent Folders, and Recent Files. If you don’t want to see them in File Explorer, you can easily hide them, here is how.
Hiding Favorites, Frequent Folders, and Recent Files in File Explorer on Windows 10
1. Open File Explorer using Win+E (or click on start and click on File Explorer), click View, click on Options
2. In the Folder Options dialog window, Under General, choose This PC for Open File Explorer to:
3. Click on OK to apply the changes.
- FilerFrog , Excellent File Handling Windows Explorer Shell Extension
- How to Show Hidden files, Folders and File Extension Names in Windows 8
Now when you open File Explorer from the taskbar or by pressing Win +E, you won’t see Frequent folders, instead regularly used Folders and Devices and Drives groups appear.
Note: This post Set File Explorer in Windows 10 to open ‘This PC’ as default Folder instead of Quick Access written with different perspective offers the same option as well.
Have you found this Windows 10 tip useful?
venkat, i am impressed with your blog.. you have posted lots of useful information which is beneficial to me..
But how do you hide the Libraries from appearing in the File Explorer navigation pane?
Click on View > Navigation Pane > Uncheck ‘Show Libraries’.
Worked. Thanks
Glad to know that, welcome.
I followed these instructions and it caused my Win10 explorer process to go into an infinite crash loop
I’ve not encountered such thing even in the latest 9879 build, anyway, check the update posted at the bottom of the article. Thanks.
Very handy to remove Recent Files, thanks!
Thanks, exactly the guide I was looking for!
You’re welcome Kareljte.
Man I love you! I cant even form words how much I hates this new “Feature”…. :)
Thanks, it works. But everytime we open Explorer, it shows quick access. How can we set This PC in place of quick access so that everytime we open Explorer it will show This PC and not quick access.?
Can we get quick access back? And I got the option to change file explorer to This PC. :)
Sahil, check this post https://techdows.com/2015/01/windows-10-build-9926-lets-you-set-file-explorer-to-open-this-pc-as-default-folder.html
File Explorer view, options, under general tab at bottom under privacy.
Is it possible to undo this? (the register thing)
Undoing means you need to add those keys back.
Thank you so much buddy.
That’s not a good feature for security purpose.
Hi, let me just say that I’m hating Windows 10 for these hidden “features” that could potentially expose one’s privacy in a shared pc. Your blog is very helpful. The problem I have is that my neighbor’s kid often comes over to my apartment and uses my pc when they come over. I noticed that if you click on the search box in the start menu, people could just type anything and Win10 will “predict” the text and show relevant file names. Needless to say, I don’t want this kid to find my photos of my recent vacation to the Rockies or to Hawaii, showing pictures of beautiful sunsets/sunrises, pretty butterflies, colorful flowers, and such. By the way, I notice the search function still shows the files inspite of them being categorized as “hidden”, or even “disabled”. The file names and the photos/thumbnails still pop up although you won’t get access to it if they were disabled. Is there a way to change the setting so that Win10 will not show a hidden or disabled file? Thanks a bunch.
Windows 10 doesn’t really give control on the thing you’ve requested, yes I am not aware of Win10 offering such control or setting to prevent search from showing images or files. I am not sure that is true that search displays hidden files also (yes! talking about images), ensure in view of folder options, ‘don’t show hidden files or folders or drives’ is checked.