Windows 10: Lost "Recent Files View" in Quick Access

I have lost the "Recent Files View" in Quick Access on my desktop computer. I still have it on my Surface which I have attached a screenshot from for clarification. How can I get this view back on my desktop computer?

Thanks

Lenox

:)

 

How to hide recent files from Quick Access

Hi,

Let me assist you with this.

Get rid of the new Quick Access/Home view in File Explorer

Follow these simple steps to bring back the old This PC view in Windows 10 File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer, click on View tab in Ribbon and then click on
Options.

2. Now to remove frequent folders and recent files list from Quick Access/Home view, uncheck following 2 options present under
Privacy section:

• Show recently used files in Quick Access
• Show frequently used folders in Quick Access

It'll immediately remove these 2 sections from Quick Access view in File Explorer.



3. If you want to completely get rid of Quick Access/Home view from File Explorer, change the option "Open File Explorer to" from "Quick access" to "This PC" using drop-down list.

It'll set the old This PC view as default in File Explorer and you'll always have disk drives page visible whenever you open File Explorer.

Let us know if you have any questions again on quick access. We are happy to help!

 

Quick Access Not Working

Hi Dustin,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Follow the below steps to repair the broken database of Quick Access.

Method 1:

Before repairing the database, try to disable and then re-enable Quick Access to see if it helps. To disable and re-enable Quick Access, follow the below steps:

Step 1: To remove frequent folders and recent files list from Quick Access, open File Explorer > click on View tab in Ribbon >
click on Options > Change folder and search options to open Folder Options.

Step 2: You’ll have to uncheck the following two check-boxes present under the Privacy section to disable Quick Access:

• Show recently used files in Quick Access.
  
• Show frequently used folders in Quick Access.
  

Step 3: Click Apply and Exit. The action will instantly remove these two sections from Quick Access in File Explorer. (To clear your Quick Access history press the ‘Clear’ button against Clear File Explorer History).

Step 4: Then, check
the following two check-boxes again to enable Quick Access that you did in
Step2.

• Show recently used files in Quick Access.
  
• Show frequently used folders in Quick Access.
  

Step 5: Restart the PC once and check the issue and if the issue persist, follow the
Method 2.

Method 2:

The Method 2 will repair the broken database of Quick Access.

Step 1: Open File Explorer and paste this folder path: %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations in the address bar and hit Enter.

Step 2: Once the folder is opened, press ‘Ctrl’ key and the ‘A’ from your keyboard to select all of its contents and delete it.

Step 3: Do the same for this folder path as well: %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations

Step 4: Restart the PC once and check the issue.

Hope it helps.

Shafeeq Ali Khan

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Quick Access

The reply isn't helpful unfortunately.

The question/posting wasn't about deleting files or permanently deleting files.

But about the display of recent files in Quick Access view, which is shown when opening File Explorer => Windows 10.

Quick Access shows a list of (supposedly) recent files that have been opened. It doesn't automatically update when other files are opened.

My question was about listings in Quick Access that showed files as having been moved or renamed when in fact they had been deleted (I would suggest the Recycle Bin).

So to my partner the Quick Access listing was stating I had (attempted to) move/rename the files (and therefore hide them from her) whereas I had actually deleted them.

I would appreciate someone verifying this is plausible with the way file listings are listed in Windows 10/Quick Access.