When you open the File Explorer on your Windows computer, it launches the Quick Access. In this post, we will learn how to open File Explorer to This PC instead of Quick Access on Windows 11/10.
What is Quick Access in Windows 11/10?
Quick Access lets users view their recent and frequently used files and folders. Users also have the option to Pin items to Quick Access. If you need to open This PC or any of the Drives, you will have to do it via the Navigation Pane on the left-hand side.
As shown above, right-clicking on Qucik Access in the Navigation pane also displayed other options.
Read: Make File Explorer open to OneDrive
Open File Explorer to This PC instead of Quick Access
If you do not like your File Explorer opening to Quick Access but would like it to open to This PC folder, then you can do so as follows.
You will have to launch File Explorer, open File Explorer Options, and then configure the Folder Options.
In Windows 11 Explorer, click on 3-dots and then select Options from the drop-down menu as follows.
In Windows 10 Explorer, click on the View tab in Ribbon and then click on Options, and then Change folder and search options as shown below.
When you do this, File Explorer Options (earlier called Folder Options) will open. Now under the General tab, you will see Open File Explorer to:
From the drop-down menu, select This PC instead of Quick Access.
Click on Apply and exit.
Read: How to Backup and Restore Quick Access Folders.
Now when you click on the Explorer icon, you will find that it now opens to This PC as shown below.
Windows 11
Windows 10
I hope you are enjoying using your Windows PC.
Similarly, you can make the Explorer Taskbar shortcut open ANY favorite folder of your choice.
Next, we will see how you can disable Quick Access and not show the recently and frequently used files and folders there.
How do I make File Explorer open to This PC instead of Quick Access using GPO?
Open Group Policy Management Console. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Now double-click Set the default location for File Explorer, select Enabled and then choose This PC from the drop-down menu. Click Apply and then OK.
TIP: Check out our post on Windows File Explorer Tips & Tricks.
How do I set File Explorer to open to This PC instead of Quick Access in Windows 11 using Registry?
Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
In the right pane of the Advanced key, double-click on LaunchTo and then change its DWORD value as follows:
- 1 = This PC
- 2 = Quick access
- 3 = Downloads.
How do I change File Explorer from Quick Access to This PC?
To change the File Explorer from Quick Access to This PC, we need to change the File Explorer or Folder Options. Under the General tab, set Open File Explorer to to what you want. You can also use Registry or Group Policy Editor.
How do I stop File Explorer from going to Quick Access?
To stop File Explorer from going to Quick Access, open File Explorer, click on the View tab, then Options. Under the Privacy section, uncheck “Show recently used files in Quick Access.” Apply the changes to disable Quick Access.
Also Read: File Explorer is slow to open in Windows 11.
