Modern versions of Ubuntu use the GNOME desktop environment, which includes a comprehensive file indexing and search tool called Tracker. This background service constantly indexes your files so that when you press the Super (Windows) key and start typing, your files instantly appear in the search results.
However, GNOME also maintains a history of your recent searches and recently accessed files within the Nautilus file manager. If you are sharing a computer, or simply demonstrating something on your screen during a meeting, opening the file manager can inadvertently expose your recent, potentially sensitive search queries (like “tax returns” or “medical records”) via the “Recent” tab or the search bar dropdown.
If you prioritize privacy and want a completely amnesic system, you can configure Ubuntu to stop tracking and saving your file manager history entirely.
How to Stop Ubuntu from Saving Search and File History
You can completely disable the file history tracking via the Privacy settings.
- Open the Settings app in Ubuntu.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, scroll down and click on Privacy.
- Click on File History & Trash (or “Usage & History” on older versions).
- You will see a setting labeled File History.
- Turn the toggle switch to the Off position.
- (Optional) Immediately below the toggle, click the Clear History… button to instantly purge all previously recorded search terms and recent file access logs from the database.
With File History disabled, the “Recent” tab in your Nautilus file manager will remain permanently blank. Your operating system will completely stop recording your search terms, ensuring your local activity remains completely private and untraceable by anyone else using your machine.