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patelshivam94
Contributor
Contributor

Removing Downloads Directory from Quick Access

Hi All,

Is there a way to remove the Downloads directory from Quick Access via Registry? We already have this removed from This PC but are also looking for a way to remove from Quick Access.

Thank You, in advance,

Shivam Patel

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Hotrod76
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi, the below article explains how to hide the Downloads from Quick access using the registry.  I've not performed any of the steps outlined below. I hope this helps.

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/remove-quick-access-other-shell-folders-file-explorer/

patelshivam94
Contributor
Contributor

Hi HotRod76,

The article references how to remove Downloads from "This PC" but not from Quick Access. Is there a way to remove Downloads from Quick Access? Am I missing something?

Thanks.

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Hotrod76
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

If you scroll down further in the article you should see the below.  "This PC" is just a generic name.  The below should work for a physical or virtual Windows 10 instance.

  • Start regedit.exe and go to the following branch:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
  • Create a subkey named HideMyComputerIcons

Select HideMyComputerIcons. In the right-pane, create a DWORD (32 bit) value, with the {GUID} string as the value name. The {GUID} string for each shell folder is provided below.

For each shell folder you want to hide, you need to create a new {GUID} value, of type REG_DWORD, and set it’s data to 1.

{GUID} StringShell Folder Name
{0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A}3d objects
{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}Desktop
{D3162B92-9365-467A-956B-92703ACA08AF}Documents
{088E3905-0323-4B02-9826-5D99428E115F}Downloads
{3DFDF296-DBEC-4FB4-81D1-6A3438BCF4DE}Music
{24AD3AD4-A569-4530-98E1-AB02F9417AA8}Pictures
{F86FA3AB-70D2-4FC7-9C99-FCBF05467F3A}Videos
patelshivam94
Contributor
Contributor

Hi HotRod,

I understand this will work for a physical or virtual Windows 10 instance but to my knowledge, the fix stated will only remove "Downloads" from "This PC" and not from Quick Access. Is there a way to remove "Downloads" from Quick Access as well?

Thanks.

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Hotrod76
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi patelshivam94, have you tried following the above to see if "Downloads" is ultimately hidden from "Quick Access"?

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JohnTwilley
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Did you try removing the ability for QA to "show frequent"?

Show frequently used files in Quick access

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShowFrequent = 0