How to Clear Your File Explorer Recent Files in Windows 11

By default, whenever you open File Explorer in Windows 11, the first thing you see is the “Home” tab. This view automatically displays a list of your most recently opened files and folders under the “Recent” section. While this feature is designed to help you quickly jump back into your work, it can also be a significant privacy concern if you share a computer, present your screen during meetings, or simply do not want a visible history of every document and image you have viewed. Fortunately, you can clear this history instantly.

How to Clear Your Recent Files History

You can wipe the current list of recent files directly from within the File Explorer window.

1. Open File Explorer by clicking its icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows Key + E.
2. Look at the top menu bar (the ribbon) and click on the three horizontal dots (See more) located on the far right.
3. From the drop-down menu, click on Options. This will open the Folder Options window.
4. Ensure you are on the General tab at the top of the window.
5. Look at the very bottom section labeled “Privacy.”
6. Next to the text “Clear File Explorer history,” click the Clear button.
7. Click OK to close the window. Your recent files list will immediately disappear.

How to Permanently Hide Recent Files in File Explorer

Clicking the “Clear” button only deletes the current history. As soon as you open new files, the list will start building up again. If you want to permanently disable the feature so that File Explorer never tracks or displays your recent files, you must change the privacy settings.

1. Open File Explorer and click the three horizontal dots in the top menu bar.
2. Select Options to open the Folder Options window.
3. In the “Privacy” section at the bottom, look for the checkbox labeled Show recently used files.
4. Click the checkbox to uncheck it.
5. (Optional) If you also want to hide your frequently accessed folders, uncheck the box labeled Show frequently used folders.
6. Click Apply, then click OK.

From now on, the “Recent” section in your File Explorer Home tab will remain completely blank, ensuring your file history remains private.