Windows 10 Quick Access makes it very easy to access favorite folders in all Explorer windows. A practical function that takes on its full meaning when it is personalized.
Like web browsers, Windows 10 has a function for quickly accessing frequently or recently used folders – it replaces the notion of Favorites integrated into Windows 7 and 8. Aptly named Quick access, it is available in the left pane of Windows Explorer windows and windows for opening and saving files. A click on one of the elements of the list is thus sufficient to open the corresponding file, without having to get lost in the meanders of a tree structure.
However, as practical and useful as it is, this automatic selection can cause various problems, for example by displaying irrelevant or confidential files and folders, especially when it offers recent items. Fortunately, it is possible to customize it to adapt it to your real needs.
In principle, Quick Access is displayed by default in the preview pane, on the left, in all Explorer windows as well as in the windows for opening and saving files. If for some reason you don’t see the preview pane, you can easily unhide it.
- Open Windows Explorer from the desktop or a folder.
© CCM - If the pane is not visible on the left side of the window, click the tab Displayin the menu bar, then, in the icon bar that appears, click the little arrow located under Preview pane, to the left. Then, in the bubble that appears, check Preview pane.
- The Preview Pane appears in the window, with the Quick Access section at the top.
- Open Windows Explorer – from the Desktop or from a folder – then right-click on Quick accessin the left pane and click Options.
- In the window that appears, uncheck the boxes in front of the options View recently used files in Quick Access and Show recently used folders in Quick Accessin the section Confidentiality declaration. The Quick Access feature will no longer show recently used items.
- Take this opportunity to click the button Wipe off to delete the history of recently used files and folders.
- Finally click on the button OK to confirm and save your settings.
- Open a window with Windows Explorer and browse your PC tree to locate a file or folder that you want to add to the Quick Access list.
- Right-click on it and, in the context menu that appears, click on Pin to Quick access.
- The selected folder or file immediately appears in the Quick Access list.
- Renew the operation as many times as necessary with all the elements you want to access quickly.
- You can reorganize the list at any time by moving the items stored in Quick Access with the mouse.
- To remove an item from the list, when you no longer need it, right click on it, and select Unpin from Quick Access.
Nothing is final and you can of course renew your Quick Access list as you see fit, to adapt it to your current needs.