One of the things I do not like about
File Explorer in Windows 10, is the fact that it starts by default on the
Quick Access section. There I see my recent files and frequent folders. However, I prefer viewing my drives and user folders like
Documents or
Downloads. If you do too, read this tutorial and see how to set
File Explorer to open
This PC instead of
Quick Access:
The problem: File Explorer in Windows 10 opens Quick access when you start it
If you have not
configured File Explorer in any way, each time you start it, it opens the
Quick Access section, where you see your most frequently accessed folders, as well as your recent files.
Some users want to remove the default behavior that opens
Quick access in
File Explorer and switch to using the
This PC section.
This PC may be a more useful start location for
File Explorer, as it shows your user folders (
Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Desktop, and so on), as well as all the storage devices and drives on your computer.
We prefer this way of viewing things when we start
File Explorer, and we always switch
Quick Access with
This PC, as the default start location.
The solution: Set File Explorer to open This PC by default
To solve this problem,
start File Explorer. Then,
open the Folder Options window. To do that, click the
View tab on the ribbon, and then the
Options button on the right.
In the
Folder Options window, make sure that you are in the
General tab. There, click or tap the drop-down list next to
"Open File Explorer to" and choose
This PC instead of
Quick access. Do not forget to click
OK to save your settings.
Close
File Explorer and, the next time you start it, it should open
This PC. A more useful start location, isn't it?
What if I want to choose another start location for File Explorer?
Some users may not be satisfied with this and may want
File Explorer to start in a custom folder of their choosing, or to a specific drive. To help them out, we have created this guide:
How to make Windows 10's File Explorer start in any folder you want.
Do you like This PC more than Quick Access?
This tutorial should have helped you solve this small annoyance. If you have any problems, share them in a comment. Also, tell us which start location you prefer for
File Explorer: is it
Quick Access or
This PC? Comment below and let's discuss.
Discussion (10)
thanks!
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Prefer opening to my PC do not use the quick access
Windows 10 just changed document files to .docx, making File Explorer default to SYSTEM32. It doesn’t default to Quick Access or This PC. I don’t want to make a quick save of my document into SYSTEM32 folder.
05-05-2019 can you address this issue anytime soon; it is a new issue.
Follow the instructions in our tutorials to change the folder opened by File Explorer, when you start it.
Not good enough. In my case, “This PC” is not the location i what.
Is there an easy way to start File Explorer in other than Quick Access or PC?
Instead of just This PC, I think it would be handy to have an option to always start on a specific drive.
Can I make File Explorer open to my “Data” partition instead?
Read this guide: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-make-windows-10s-file-explorer-start-any-location-you-want