How to Stop File Explorer from Showing Recent Files
In today’s digital age, managing files on your computer is an essential skill. Microsoft Windows, one of the most widely used operating systems, offers a variety of features to enhance user experience. One such feature is the recent files list in the File Explorer. However, some users may find this feature intrusive or unnecessary, especially when dealing with sensitive data. In this article, we will guide you on how to stop File Explorer from showing recent files on Windows.
Firstly, you need to open the File Explorer settings. To do this, right-click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar and select “Properties” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer, then click on the “File” menu at the top left corner, and select “Properties.”
In the “Properties” window, you will see a “Privacy” tab. Click on it to access the privacy settings. Here, you will find the option “Show recently used files in Quick Access.” Uncheck this box to disable the recent files list.
If you want to take it a step further and remove the recent files list from the Quick Access section, follow these steps:
1. Open the “Properties” window of File Explorer as mentioned earlier.
2. Go to the “General” tab.
3. Scroll down to the “Navigation” section.
4. Look for the option “Show all folders in Quick Access.”
5. Uncheck this box, and the recent files list will be removed from the Quick Access section.
For more advanced users, you can also edit the Windows Registry to achieve the same result. Please note that editing the registry can be risky if not done correctly, so it is recommended to back up your data before proceeding.
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. In the right pane, find the DWORD (32-bit) value named “ShowRecentFilesInQuickAccess.”
5. Double-click on it and set its value to “0” (zero) to disable the recent files list.
6. Click “OK” and close the Registry Editor.
By following these steps, you should be able to stop File Explorer from showing recent files on your Windows computer. Remember that this change will only affect the current user account. If you want to disable the feature for all users, you will need to repeat the process on each user account.
