Windows 10: Win 10 Quick Access mixes frequent folders and recent files

Hello,

I've learned to like the "Quick Access" feature of Win 10. Recently it has shown a strange trait. That is, instead of listing my "frequent folders" in a list in a pane at the top of the window and "recent files" in a pane at the bottom at the bottom of the window (in a separate pane), both "frequent folders" and "recent files" show up on the same detail list (in a single pane).

Likewise, the entries are all sorted by name instead of (recent) date, as I would like.

See image:




Here is a sample (imaged grabbed from Internet) of how it should look. ("Recent folders" in a separate pane at the top and "recent files" at the bottom. This is how I want my Quick Access window to look again.





How can I get Quick access to once again separate the "recent folders" from the "recent files"... and make them sort by "most recent date first"?

By the way, I tried "restore defaults" but that was to no avail.

Thanks!

cbi

:)

 

Recent folders rather than frequent folders in windows 10 quick access

In Win 7 we had Recent Folders and Recent Files. In Win 10, for some reason the Folders are "Frequent" instead of "Recent". I find it less practical.

How do I list recent folders rather than frequent folders in windows 10 quick access?

 

Can't we sort Quick Access items?

Hi Cathy,

Items in the Quick access view can't be sorted as you like. It's a special folder designed that way. The "recent files" section, files that are most recently accessed are shown at the top. For Frequent folders listing, its sorted as:

Pinned Special folders

Pinned folders

Recent folders

Two things that can be changed:

1. Mix up Frequent folders and Recent files listing, instead of them being shown in separate groups.

2. Sort "frequent folders" items by name regardless of type (whether it's a special folder, pinned normal folder or a recent folder.)

Unfortunately, both of this involve editing the registry.

For custom sort, AFAIK, that can't be done for Quick access.. and even if it were possible it might involve editing the registry and changing the shell folder bitmask values.

Two other workarounds would be:

1. Pin "Recent folders" in Quick Access.

2. Pin "Recent folders" as a separate namespace item, appearing below Quick access section.

REF: How to Pin Recent folders or Recent Places to the Navigation Pane in Windows 10 File Explorer

Benefit: Items in this view can be custom sorted.

 

No one has ever taken the time to figure out what Microsoft is doing with the algorithm that they are using for Quick Access.

Majority of people disable it, because you are not always accessing those same folders all of the time. Especially if one computer is used just for network shares.

 

Well thanks... but that does not answer my question. I'm not the "majority of people". I want Quick Access to go back to its original configuration and behavior... I for one like how Quick Access works "out of the box" and want to get it back to that state.

So please, if anyone really knows how to do that, please post your solution.

Regards,

cbi

 

No one has a simple solution for your question, because none of us have figured out Microsoft's algorithm on how they have made Quick Access to behave that way.

Even if you were to reset it back to OOB (Out Of the Box), it will go back to how it is now.

 

Hello coolblueice, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Resetting your folder view settings back to default using the tutorial below will fix this for you.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html

 

Thanks Brink, for the link to resetting things in the registry. *Smile

Wow... It's been years since I have run a "batch file"... Let's see, I think I need to save the .bat file, then type the directory path and file name in to the "Run" command... Does that sound right?

I'll let you know if that fixes the issue with Quick access.

Thanks again!

cbi

 

Thanks Brink... I'll give that a try.

 

You're most welcome. I hope it helps. *Smile

 

Thx so much...