Windows – Get rid of new “Quick Access” desktop icon (Win10-AU)

desktopiconswindows 10

Since upgrading to Windows10 AU, my desktop now displays a new icon in the upper left corner — an italicized blue star labeled Quick Access, which functions as a shortcut to the Quick Access feature in the tree pane of File Explorer (Quick Access serving as an MRU or "Recents" list). I don't use the Quick Access feature in File Explorer, so I've followed instructions I found on line to eliminate the Q.A. gimmick there; and that removal worked successfully. But on the desktop, the blue star icon persists (though it sometimes disappears and reappears sporadically). Its context menu does not provide a Delete option. So: how can I get rid of this icon?

Best Answer

  1. Enter Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Run Command Box and go to registry path HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6} and Right Click it to see the Drop Down Menu.

  2. Enter ShellFolder >> Permission >> Advanced

  3. At the top of Advanced Security Settings for ShellFolder, change the ownership of the folder to Administrators.

    To do this, click Change, click Advanced, click Find Now, and from Search Results select Administrators, then click OK, OK again, then Apply, hit OK. Click Administrator and give Full Control and hit OK one last time to close the ShellFolder Permissions box.

    We can now change the setting to remove the Quick Access folder from File Explorer/Desktop.

  4. Inside ShellFolder, double-click Attributes, and change data value from a0100000 to a0700000, and click OK.

This should get rid of the Quick Access File Folder/Desktop icon.

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