Windows 10 shows you the frequently accessed folders and recent files in the Quick access view when you open File Explorer. While this feature can be useful if you need quick access to your frequent resources, it might also be an annoyance if you are using a shared computer, and you do not want other people to see what you are doing on the same computer. These lists can be cleared manually or hidden permanently. Read on to learn how to it is done:
How to clear the Recent files and Frequent folders in File Explorer
By default, the Quick access section in the navigation panel on the left side of File Explorer, always displays the recent files that you have used and the frequent folders that you open when working on your Windows 10 PC.
Quick access in File Explorer
You may want to clear the recent files in Windows 10 and the list of frequent folders, as a temporary choice. You can do that, but, then Windows 10 starts to build up the lists again, based on your usage of File Explorer. If you want to do this, you clear these lists from File Explorer Options (or Folder Options). One easy way to open this window is to search using "file explorer options" in the search box near the Start Menu. Click or tap File Explorer Options in the list of search results.
Search for File Explorer Options in Windows 10
For all the ways to open File Explorer Options, read 8 ways to open the Folder Options window, in Windows (all versions).
In the File Explorer Options window, on the General tab, identify the Privacy section. Click or tap the Clear button, and then OK to close the window.
Clear the lists of recently used files and frequently used folders
The recently used files and frequently used folders lists are cleared. If you have a File Explorer window open, the clearing is visible right away. Otherwise, you see the effect the next time you open the Quick access view in File Explorer. The clearing does not affect the files and folders pinned to Quick access. The only way to eliminate them from the Quick access view is to unpin them. Read this article if you want to learn how to view, pin and unpin items to Quick access.
How to hide Recent files and Frequent folders in File Explorer
If you need to get rid of the lists with recent files and frequent folders, you may be better served by hiding these lists altogether. Once you hide them, they never show up again, and you do not need to worry about clearing the lists all the time.
Just like the clearing, the hiding is done from File Explorer Options (or Folder Options). In the General tab, look for the Privacy section. Uncheck the "Show recently used files in Quick access" and "Show frequently used folders in Quick access" and press OK to close the window.
Hide the recently used files and frequently used folders
The effect is immediate in File Explorer.
How to clear individual items from Recent files or Frequent folders
You can also eliminate individual items from Quick access, without clearing all your recent files or frequently used folders. If you want to retain the majority of the lists and get rid of a couple of items only, then you do not need to clear the entire list. However, those items may show up again in the future, if you use them again. Here is how it is done:
First, open File Explorer, and open the Quick access view by clicking or tapping on it.
Quick access in File Explorer
Identify the file or folder that you want to delete from the list of recent files of frequent folders, and right-click or tap and hold on it. Choose "Remove from Quick access" in the menu that opens.
Remove individual items from Quick access
The file or folder is eliminated from the list immediately.
Do you have any concerns regarding privacy when using files and folders in Windows 10?
Now that you know how to hide recent files and frequently used folders from File Explorer, you should be able to make better use of this option and configure it according to your preferences. Before closing this tutorial, tell us your reason for clearing recent files and frequent folders, from File Explorer. Are you concerned about your privacy or there is another reason for this choice?
i wanted to remove the recent files/folders bcz i like/need a clean view. it weirds me out to have some many things ‘showing’ at one time.
Eric ·
Hi,
I work on multiple projects at a time and thus have multiple folders open with the file explorer at all times. In windows 7, when you hovered over the file explorer icon on the task bar, the name of the folder would appear so it was easy to know which project folder to click on. With windows 10, they got rid of that and now you have to click on each folder to see the name. It only takes a few more seconds, but I do this hundreds of times in a day, which adds up to frustrating. Any help would be great! Thanks,
Rob ·
I suppose if I would have taken the time to figure it out myself, then that wouldn’t have been a hard find lol.
Still, thanks. That crap was so damn annoying.
Briana ·
This is close to what I am looking to do, but I want to only hide one folder (and all files and folders within) from showing up. I’d rather not “hide” the folder altogether if it is navigated to directly. If it would work, I would hide the folder and put a shortcut someplace, but I’m not sure it will work.
Jabes Medeiros ·
Hi!! I have problems with a recent folders list that appears with the right button click on the windows explorer icon on the task bar. It shows a list of weird files: (“CD” “CE” “C8” “CA”…) that no longer exists and I can’t erase them neither delete them. Some one knows what to do? Thanks
Andrew Walker ·
I have tried doing this and one of my deleted folders will not disappear from the “Quick Access” area, even though the folder has been deleted. I’m guessing that some entry in the Registry can be safely deleted, but I am not stupid enough to delete entries without instruction.
Can anybody assist please?
Ciprian Adrian Rusen ·
What if you restore the deleted folder, remove it from Quick Access and then delete it again? Does it work like that?
Andrew Walker ·
Since my last posting, I had come across other reasons (like menus refusing to pop up) and I had to wipe C drive and start over. Since the wiping the problem has not re-occurred (yet!!!).
Discussion (8)
i wanted to remove the recent files/folders bcz i like/need a clean view. it weirds me out to have some many things ‘showing’ at one time.
Hi,
I work on multiple projects at a time and thus have multiple folders open with the file explorer at all times. In windows 7, when you hovered over the file explorer icon on the task bar, the name of the folder would appear so it was easy to know which project folder to click on. With windows 10, they got rid of that and now you have to click on each folder to see the name. It only takes a few more seconds, but I do this hundreds of times in a day, which adds up to frustrating. Any help would be great! Thanks,
I suppose if I would have taken the time to figure it out myself, then that wouldn’t have been a hard find lol.
Still, thanks. That crap was so damn annoying.
This is close to what I am looking to do, but I want to only hide one folder (and all files and folders within) from showing up. I’d rather not “hide” the folder altogether if it is navigated to directly. If it would work, I would hide the folder and put a shortcut someplace, but I’m not sure it will work.
Hi!! I have problems with a recent folders list that appears with the right button click on the windows explorer icon on the task bar. It shows a list of weird files: (“CD” “CE” “C8” “CA”…) that no longer exists and I can’t erase them neither delete them. Some one knows what to do? Thanks
I have tried doing this and one of my deleted folders will not disappear from the “Quick Access” area, even though the folder has been deleted. I’m guessing that some entry in the Registry can be safely deleted, but I am not stupid enough to delete entries without instruction.
Can anybody assist please?
What if you restore the deleted folder, remove it from Quick Access and then delete it again? Does it work like that?
Since my last posting, I had come across other reasons (like menus refusing to pop up) and I had to wipe C drive and start over. Since the wiping the problem has not re-occurred (yet!!!).