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

Question

_{Wednesday, November 7, 2018 9:27 PM}

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

All replies (3)

_{Thursday, November 8, 2018 5:47 AM ✅Answered}

Hi Andy, 

According to my know, it would impossible to disable or gray out the general tab or restore defaults through GPO or registry key. I monitored and found the changed key corresponding with "Show recently used files in Quick access" and "Show frenquently used folders in Quick access" are located in [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer], and named as "ShowRecent", "ShowFrequent". On this part, it is same with your shared information. I suspect we might try to restrict the modification priviledge for the "Explorer" registry key to prevent user changes them. 

Bests, 

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_{Tuesday, November 13, 2018 8:30 AM}

Hi Andy,

Haven't received your message a few days, was your issue resolved? 
I am proposing previous helpful replies as "Answered". Please feel free to try it and let me know the result. If the reply is helpful, please remember to mark it as answer which can help other community members who have same questions and find the helpful reply quickly.

Best regards,

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_{Wednesday, November 21, 2018 7:39 PM}

Hi Joy-Qiao,

I marked your answer as correct.

Disabling a user ability to reset to default,  is not possible.

Thanks very much for your input.

Andy

Andy