How to Reset the Quick Access Pinned Folders to Their Defaults in Windows 10
As you use your Windows 10 computer, you may find yourself frequently accessing certain folders such as Documents, Downloads or Pictures. In order to make it easier for you to access these folders, Windows 10 offers a Quick Access feature. This feature allows you to quickly navigate to your frequently used folders, as well as recently opened files.
By default, Windows 10 will populate the Quick Access area with your most frequently used folders. However, you can also pin folders to the Quick Access area, which will keep them easily accessible no matter how frequently you use them.
Sometimes, however, you may need to reset the Quick Access pinned folders to their defaults. This can be done quickly and easily.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Reset Quick Access Pinned Folders to Their Defaults
1. Open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar, or by clicking on the File Explorer icon in your Start menu.
2. Once in File Explorer, navigate to the Quick Access area on the left-hand side of the screen. You should see a list of your pinned folders, as well as your frequently used folders.
3. Right-click on any pinned folder that you want to remove from the Quick Access area. From the drop-down menu that appears, select “Unpin from Quick Access”.
4. Repeat step 3 for any other pinned folders that you want to remove.
5. Once all of the pinned folders have been removed, click on the “View” tab at the top of the File Explorer window.
6. From the “View” tab, click on “Options”.
7. In the “Folder Options” window that appears, click on the “General” tab.
8. In the “General” tab, you will see a section labeled “Privacy” with a button that says “Clear”. Click on this button.
9. You will receive a warning message asking if you are sure you want to clear the Quick Access history. Click “Yes” to confirm.
10. Once you have cleared the Quick Access history, the pinned folders will be reset to their defaults. The defaults include the folders “Desktop”, “Documents”, “Downloads”, “Music”, “Pictures” and “Videos”. These folders will be automatically pinned to the Quick Access area.
11. If there are other folders that you frequently use and want to pin to the Quick Access area, simply navigate to the folder and right-click on it. From the drop-down menu that appears, select “Pin to Quick Access”.
In summary, resetting the Quick Access pinned folders to their defaults in Windows 10 is a quick and easy process. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly remove any pinned folders that you no longer need, clear the Quick Access history, and reset the default pinned folders to their original settings.