In 2016, Google Drive launched a new feature called “Quick Access” or “Suggestion” as many of the company’s contenders had already rolled out this feature. Many users have found this rather unnecessary addition and have flagged it for security reasons. In this article, we will guide you on how to remove quick access and how to disable the quick access shortcuts from google drive.
Quick Access or Suggestion section in Google Drive displays all the files that you recently opened. The Google Drive team had claimed that the “Quick Access” feature will save 50 percent of the average time for the average user to get to their desired file.
However, this “Quick Access” feature has raised several alarms for privacy and security issues, as it allows other people to see a preview at the time you access it. If this is an issue for you, then it is advisable to disable the Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive and protect your files from easy access.
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This article dives deep into whatever is needed to be known about Quick Access in Google Drive, and how to disable the Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive.
Developers at Google brought in Quick Access as a new feature on Google Drive in an effort to enhance its user experience. The Quick Access feature in Google Drive brings all recent documents of the user on the Drive page.
The Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive have a lot in common with Windows 10’s Quick Access feature which also lets you conveniently get access to the most frequent and recently used files under one window. The Quick Access feature tracks your activity on Google Drive to predict files that you’re most likely to use.
The Quick Access feature can be found at the top of your page on Google Drive. This feature available on the web app is also available on the Android and iOS mobile applications.
Should you disable quick access shortcuts in Google Drive
If left on, the Quick Access might turn problematic particularly in situations where you have to work with teammates or collaborators. This makes privacy a big concern. Given a situation where you have accessed a huge section of files recently, then it is likely that you have a sizable portion of your screen covered by quick files. This makes it rather uncomfortable to search for the required file from the huge list of files.
Fortunately, Google allows its users to hide the Quick Access area from the view. If the Quick Access feature isn’t for you, you can easily disable it by following a few steps. You can clear the previously viewed files that are predominantly displayed when you open the Google Drive application. All you have to do is just disable the “Quick Access” feature in Google Drive.
Here is how to disable the Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive from your PC, Android, and iOS devices:
If you’re on your PC, log in to Google Drive on Chrome or any other browser on your desktop.
- Locate the ‘Settings’ icon at the top right of the home page of Google Drive.
- Click on it and select “Settings” from the drop-down menu. This will open up the ‘Settings’ pop-up box. Find the ‘Suggestions’ option and navigate to it.
- You can see a window with the option “Make relevant files handy when you need them”. Uncheck it and click on the ‘Done’ button.
- It may be that the “Quick Access” shortcut is still not disabled on the Google Drive page. Keep in mind that the “Quick Access” shortcut does not disappear instantly.
Refresh Google Drive using the shortcut ‘CTRL+R’. You’ll find that the “Quick Drive” shortcut has now disappeared.
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Removing Quick Access from Android
To remove the Quick Access feature on your Android device, access the Google Drive app.
- Click on the ‘Hamburger Icon’ present on the top-left corner of your screen.
- Now click on the Settings icon.
- In the ‘Enable Quick Access’ section you’ll find an option that says “Get suggestions for time relevant files that you may want to open. Adds a section at the top of My Drive”. Turn it option off.
This is all it takes to remove the Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive on an Android device.
For iOS users, open the Google Drive app on your iPhone
- Click the ‘List’ icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Now tap on the ‘Settings’ icon.
- In the ‘Enable Quick Access’ section, check for the options that say “Get suggestions for time relevant files that you may want to open. Adds a section at the top of My Drive. Turn it off.
And there, you have successfully removed the “Quick Access” shortcut in Google Drive on an iOS device.
How to enable Quick Access feature
Quick Access in Google Drive is simply a section with shortcuts to the most relevant folders and files. Once the Quick Access feature is turned off, the area that displayed Quick Access shortcuts with files and folders will disappear.
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Disabling the Quick Access shortcut should make your Google Drive interface feel less cluttered. Moreover, you no longer have to worry about privacy issues while accessing files on Google Drive. If you want to start using the Quick Access feature, you can enable it back with ease.
To enable Quick Access on Google Drive
- Launch Google Drive on Chrome or any other browser on your desktop.
- Click on the gear-shaped ‘Settings’ icon at the top right of the Google Drive home page.
- Click on the “Settings” option from the drop-down menu.
- You can now see the ‘Settings’ pop-up box. Find the ‘Suggestions’ option and click on it.
- You can see a box saying “Make relevant files handy when you need them”. Click on the checkbox to enable Quick Access and hit the ‘Done’ button.
- Refresh Google Drive using the shortcut ‘CTRL+R’ to see the Quick Access bar appear on top of your screen. You can now access the Quick Access shortcut with recently used files and folders on Google Drive.
And that’s how to disable the Quick Access shortcuts in Google Drive with ease and enable them back if you wish. Hope this article helps you make full use of Google Drive and its features.
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