How to Clear Recent Files in Windows 11 [6 Different Ways]

Windows PC displays the last few files you opened in File Explorer so you can easily use these links to quickly access them. However, many users hate this feature because it exposes your recent activities. It might be beneficial to know how to clear recent files in Windows 11.

Also, you might be interested in our article on how to remove Quick Access in Windows 11.

How to find recent files in Windows 11?

Quickly access the list through File Explorer

1. Press the key to open File Explorer.WindowsE
2. Check recently opened files under the "Recent"section of Quick Access.
3. If recently used files do not appear in the"Recent" section, left-click the Start button and type "File ExplorerOptions" and select the first result displayed.
4. Go to theGeneraltab, check the box next to the Show recently used files option and clickApply.
5. Open some files and repeat steps 1-2 to see if you can find the most recent files.

After this, let’s explore various methods to clear recent files below.

How to clear recent files in Windows 11?

1. Clear File Explorer History

1. Left-click the "Start" button, type "File Explorer Options" and then select The first result shown.
2. Click theGeneraltab, go to the Privacy menu, and click theClearbutton.
3. Close the File Explorer Options window and check if recent files are still available.

When clearing File Explorer history, the list of files recently opened in File Explorer will be cleared. Browse through some repair software for slow Windows Explorer on your computer.

2. Delete search history

1. Left-click the "Start" button and then click the gear-shaped icon to open the "Settings"app.
2. Select thePrivacy & Securitytab in the left pane and click Search Permissions.
3. Under the "History" tab, click the "Clear Device Search History" button.

Deleting your search history will clear your list of recently searched apps and files, preventing intruders from knowing.

3. Delete the account’s activity history

1. Press the key to launch theWindows Settingsapplication.WindowsI
2. Select the Privacy & Security tab in the left pane and clickActivity History.
3. Click the Clear History button to delete your activity history from all devices.
4. To prevent further storage of your account's activity history, turn off the switch for theActivity Historyoption.

Our system may record a list of recent activities and files in which you have been involved and save them in your account's activity history. Therefore, cleaning it will delete the recent files list on Windows 11.

4. Open the "

" dialog box through the Registry Editor
1. key, type Regedit, and then press"OK"Start the registry editor.WindowsR
2. Navigate to the following path:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths
3. Right-click on the url1, url2, url3 files and select theDeleteoption from the drop-down menu.

Expert Tip:

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We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and determine what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

Deleting the following keys will clear any recent files listed on your PC. Read about ways to fix a broken Registry Editor in Windows 11.

5. Delete the address bar history of File Explorer

1. Press the key to openFile Explorer.WindowsE
2. Right-click the Explorer address bar and select theDelete Historyoption from the drop-down menu.
3. Click "OK" to confirm.

Address bar history contains your most recently searched files, depending on how long they were stored. Thus, when clearing it, all information related to recent files in Windows 11 will be deleted.

Check out our guide to fix File Explorer preview pane not working on Windows PC.

6. Delete the recent file history of a specific application

1. Press the key to promptSearch thebar and type the name of the app.WindowsS
2. In the right pane, go to theRecenttab to see a list of recently opened projects,
3. Right-click the file and select the "Removefrom this list" option from the drop-down list.

Deleting recent file history for a specific app will clear details of recent activity and files you have used.

Also, you may be interested in our article How to Fix File Explorer Freezes or Not Responding Windows 11.

Likewise, do not hesitate to check multiple files from File Explorer How to extract files from a folder.

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