Remove Creative Cloud from Explore Files in Windows 11
Learn how to securely delete the Adobe Creative Cloud folder from the Explorer File sidebar on Windows 11 by changing the registry.
Do you not use the sync function and want to place order on your PC? Follow this guide to unlock and remove the Creative Cloud Files folder from the sidebar of Explorer File in Windows 11 in a simple and definitive way.
When installing a new graphic program, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or Adobe XD, the Creative Cloud Files folder is automatically added to the side menu of the file manager. This folder, located within the main directory (C unit), is used by the system to store and sync files with Adobe cloud.
If you prefer to save your projects locally or on external drives and do not use Adobe Sync services, you can simply delete this link. This will allow you to free valuable space in the Windows 11 sidebar, optimizing navigation between disks and daily work directories.
We then see the exact procedure to hide the Adobe Creative Cloud folder from the Windows 11 user interface.
How to Remove Creative Cloud Files from Registry #
Since Adobe does not integrate a direct option in classical settings, you must intervene through the Windows registry editor. By following the next steps carefully, you will complete the operation in total safety.
Important note: Before you start, we strongly recommend back up the registry as suggested by official Microsoft guidelines. This step guarantees the ability to restore your PC in case of accidental changes.
To start, open the application by typing “System Registry Editor” directly in the Windows 11 Start menu. Alternatively, you can press the Windows + R keyboard combination, type the “regedit” command in the Run window and send.
In the left panel of the new window, click on “Computer” to select the entire registry hierarchy. Done that, press the Ctrl + F keys to launch the Find tool (you can also navigate from the top menu by clicking on “Edit → Find”).
In the blank search field, enter the exact string Creative Cloud Files and click the “Next Find” button to start system scanning.
The search will identify the associated key, bringing you directly into a subfolder within the primary directory called HKEY CLASSES ROOT.
Move to the right panel. Scroll the elements until you find the string called System. IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree and double-click it.
A value change window will open. Delete the existing number, type “0” (zero) within the Value Data field and press “OK” to save and apply changes.
At this point, properly close the Registry Editor and make sure you also close the active Windows of File Explorer.
Starting File again, you will notice that the link to Creative Cloud Files has been removed from the navigation sidebar of Windows 11.
If the folder is still visible, it is likely that Windows did not update the graphics cache immediately. A simple restart of the operating system will be enough to apply the final setting.
Your data does not run any risk: the physical directory remains totally unaltered. You can access it manually by navigating to C:\Utenti\[Il tuo nome utente]\Creative Cloud Files. As a purely visual intervention on the interface, synchronization background services will not be interrupted.
If you decide to restore the original link, you will only have to re-execute the above procedure, stop at step 6 and change the value by entering the number “1”.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Creative Cloud Files #
Removing the link from File Explorer deletes my Adobe projects? #
Absolutely not. This intervention acts only and exclusively on the aesthetic aspect of the sidebar of Windows 11. All files created with Photoshop, Illustrator or other Adobe programs will continue to be stored safely on your hard drive and within cloud space.
Changing the Windows 11 registry is a secure operation? #
Changes in the registry are safe as long as you limit yourself to intervene only on the parameters indicated in the instructions. Changing only the specific value “System. IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree”, your computer’s stability and performance will remain unchanged. However, we recommend that you make a preventive security backup of the registry before making alterations.
Will the synchronization of Adobe Sync in the background stop working? #
No, deleting the visual icon from the file manager does not interfere with the features of the Adobe ecosystem. Creative Cloud management software will continue working in the background to synchronize and update relevant documents on servers, completely independent of the visibility of the link in the sidebar.
