Windows 10 Explorer - Quick Access - How to set via group policy - but how to stop users from tampering with settings?

[AndySpecial]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a registry entry to grey out the 'Restore Defaults' option for Quick Access.

We have a GPO that sets Quick Access enabled, but only for items users manually pin.

The policy works fine, but the option to 'Restore Defaults' allows the user to once again, build and display their file history.

Location: In Explore.exe - right Click on Quick Access and select 'Options' ..Restore Defaults is at the bottom of the General tab.

GPO: CC\Preferences\Windows Settings\Registry

Folder Options - General - Open File Explorer to: Quick Access or My PC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\LaunchTo =1
DWORD - makes it view MY PC instead of QA


Folder Options - General - Privacy - Show recently used files in Quick access
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShowRecent = 0
DWORD - check box is empty


Folder Options - General - Privacy - Show frequently used files in Quick access
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShowFrequent = 0
DWORD - check box is empty

Has anyone run into a setting that would prevent users from using 'restore defaults'?

Not only does it check the two Privacy boxes for show recent and show frequent..it also sets Open File Explorer back to Quick Access.

Perhaps I could hide that entire General tab? I think GPPrefs can do that somewhere but not my first choice.


(If you want to disable Quick Access entirely use this in a GPO instead.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HubMode = 1 DWORD)

Thanks very much for sharing your expertise.

Andy








Andy

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