The Cluttered Navigation Pane
Windows 10 introduced “Quick access” to the left-hand navigation pane in File Explorer. By default, this section not only displays folders you have manually pinned, but also dynamically populates with “frequently used folders.” Windows tracks your file browsing habits and automatically pins folders you access often to the top of your directory tree.
While this algorithmic approach works well for some, it is infuriating for users who prefer a static, predictable workspace. The frequently used folders constantly shift around based on your recent activity, breaking your muscle memory. Furthermore, if you are working on a sensitive project, you might not want that specific project folder permanently advertised at the top of every File Explorer window. If you want Quick access to only show exactly what you manually pin to it, you must disable the automatic tracking.
How to Disable “Show Frequently Used Folders”
You can turn off this dynamic population in the Folder Options menu.
- Open File Explorer (press
Windows Key + E). - Click on the View tab located at the top of the window.
- Click the Options button on the far right (or click the arrow under it and choose “Change folder and search options”).
- In the Folder Options window, ensure the General tab is selected.
- Locate the “Privacy” section at the bottom of the window.
- Uncheck the box next to Show frequently used folders in Quick access.
- (Optional) While you are here, you can click the Clear button to wipe your current File Explorer history.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
Quick access will instantly remove all algorithmically generated folder links. Going forward, the only folders that will appear in that section are the ones you explicitly right-click and select “Pin to Quick access,” giving you complete control over your navigation pane.