The Unwanted Suggestions
When you click inside the Search box located in the top-right corner of a Windows 11 File Explorer window, Microsoft automatically displays a drop-down list of your most recent search queries. While this is helpful if you frequently search for the same project files, it is a massive privacy issue if you share a computer. Anyone who clicks that search box will instantly see a history of the files, folders, or sensitive documents you were recently looking for. To maintain a clean, professional, and private workspace, you must instruct Windows to stop logging your keystrokes inside the File Explorer.
How to Turn Off Search History
You can completely disable the logging algorithm via the Folder Options menu.
- Open File Explorer (press the Windows Key + E).
- Click the three horizontal dots (…) located on the main menu bar (the ribbon) at the top of the window.
- Click on Options at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
- A small “Folder Options” window will pop up. Stay on the General tab.
- Look at the very bottom of the window in the “Privacy” section.
- First, click the Clear button to wipe your existing history.
- Next, find the checkbox labeled “Show recently used files in Quick access” (Note: in newer Windows 11 builds, this single checkbox controls both recent files and search history simultaneously).
- Click the checkbox to completely remove the checkmark.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
A Private Search Box
The change is absolute and instantaneous. You can now click inside the File Explorer search box, and it will remain completely blank. Windows will no longer attempt to guess what you are typing, and it will permanently cease logging your private search queries to the hard drive.