How to Clear Recent Files Windows 10?

If you’re like most Windows 10 users, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of files and documents over time. But do you know how to clear out those recent files so that your computer isn’t cluttered and running slow? This article will guide you through the steps you need to take to clear recent files on Windows 10, so you can keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently.

Clearing Recent Files in Windows 10

The recent files list on Windows 10 is a convenient way to quickly access the files you have been working on recently. However, if this list becomes cluttered or contains files you don’t want to share with others, you may want to clear it. Clearing the recent files list is an easy process that doesn’t require any special tools or knowledge. In this article, we’ll show you how to clear the recent files list in Windows 10.

Clearing the Recent Files List

The first step to clearing the recent files list is to open the File Explorer. You can do this by searching for “File Explorer” in the Windows 10 search bar, or by pressing the Windows key + E. Once the File Explorer is open, select the “View” tab at the top of the window. Then, click on the “Clear File Explorer history” button. This will remove all recent files from the list.

If you only want to remove a few files from the list, you can select the file and then click on the “Remove from list” button. This will remove the selected file from the list without removing the other files.

Preventing Files from Appearing in the List

In some cases, you may want to prevent certain files from appearing in the recent files list. To do this, open the “Options” window by clicking on the “View” tab and then clicking on the “Options” button. In the “Options” window, go to the “Privacy” tab. Then, uncheck the box next to “Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar”. This prevents any files from appearing in the recent files list.

Preventing Others from Seeing Your Recent Files

If you are concerned about others seeing your recent files, you can turn on the “Protected View” setting. To do this, click on the “Security” tab in the “Options” window. Then, check the box next to “Protect View”. This will prevent anyone from seeing your recent files unless you give them permission.

Disabling the Recent Files List

If you don’t want to use the recent files list, you can disable it completely. To do this, open the “Options” window and go to the “Privacy” tab. Then, uncheck the box next to “Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar”. This will completely disable the recent files list and prevent any files from appearing in it.

Deleting Recent Files Manually

If you want to delete the recent files in File Explorer manually, you can do so by going to the folder where the files are located. Then, select the files you want to delete and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard. This will delete the selected files from the folder.

Using Third-Party Tools

If you don’t want to delete the recent files manually, you can use a third-party tool to do it for you. There are several third-party tools available that can help you quickly and easily delete recent files. These tools can also be used to automatically delete recent files on a regular basis.

Conclusion

Clearing the recent files list in Windows 10 is an easy process that doesn’t require any special tools or knowledge. You can clear the list by opening the File Explorer and clicking on the “Clear File Explorer history” button. If you want to prevent certain files from appearing in the list, you can turn on the “Protected View” setting. You can also disable the recent files list completely or delete the recent files manually. Finally, you can use a third-party tool to delete the recent files for you.

Few Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the easiest way to clear recent files in Windows 10?

A1: The easiest way to clear recent files in Windows 10 is to use the File Explorer option. Open File Explorer and go to the “View” tab. From here, select “Options” and then “Change folder and search options”. Under the “Privacy” tab, you will see an option to clear recent files. Check the box and click “OK” to clear all recent files.

Q2: Does clearing recent files in Windows 10 delete the actual files?

A2: No. Clearing recent files in Windows 10 does not delete the actual files, it simply removes them from the recent files list. The files will still remain in the same location, unless they are manually deleted by the user.

Q3: How do I clear the recent files list in Windows 10?

A3: To clear the recent files list in Windows 10, open File Explorer and go to the “View” tab. From here, select “Options” and then “Change folder and search options”. Under the “Privacy” tab, you will see an option to clear recent files. Check the box and click “OK” to clear all recent files.

Q4: How do I clear recent files in the Taskbar?

A4: To clear recent files in the Taskbar, right-click on the Taskbar and select “Taskbar settings”. Under the “Taskbar” tab, you will see an option to clear recent files. Check the box and click “OK” to clear all recent files from the Taskbar.

Q5: How do I clear recent files from the Quick Access list?

A5: To clear recent files from the Quick Access list, open File Explorer and go to the “View” tab. From here, select “Options” and then “Change folder and search options”. Under the “Privacy” tab, you will see an option to clear recent files from the Quick Access list. Check the box and click “OK” to clear all recent files from the Quick Access list.

Q6: Is there a way to clear recent files in Windows 10 without using the File Explorer?

A6: Yes. You can also clear recent files in Windows 10 by using the “Run” command. Press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” dialogue box. Type “recent” and press enter to open the recent files folder. Delete any files you don’t want to show up in the recent files list and then close the folder. This will clear all recent files from Windows 10.

In conclusion, clearing recent files on Windows 10 is a simple process. With the help of just a few clicks, you can easily clear out all the recent files from the Windows 10 operating system. This can help free up space on your device, as well as help maintain the privacy of your data and activities. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful in teaching you how to clear recent files on your Windows 10 computer.