Overview – Quick Access History in File Explorer
The main aim of Microsoft to add the Quick Access feature was to enhance the user’s productivity and help in managing frequently accessed files and folders quickly and efficiently.
We can view the quick access history or recent files by opening the quick access history folder in file explorer and by right-clicking the file explorer icon in the taskbar.
But, it appears that you want to hide some files and folders from quick access in file explorer or just want to declutter your files and maintain the device. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to clear quick access history in file explorer and taskbar:
How Does Recent Files Work in Windows?
The algorithm used to arrange recent files in Windows is intended to function in the following manner:
The default number of items arranged is 10, however, the user can increase it by modifying some settings manually. The most recently used file is at the top of the list, which is arranged in a chronological sequence which means the older items will move down the list and newer items take their positions. Also, you’ll find the pinned items there which means they will follow the same arrangement but they’ll not be vanished from the list and remain their changing their positions. Once the pinned items are equal to the maximum number of items specified in the settings, which is equal to 10 by default, you’ll not be able to add more items until you unpin the items manually or increase the number of items shown.
1. Clear Recent Files using File Explorer Options
Step 1: Open “File Explorer Options” from the start menu.
Step 2: In the “General” tab, click the “Clear” option under the “Privacy” section.
2. Clear Recent Files using the AppData Folder
Step 1: Press the “Windows Key + R” to open Windows Run and navigate to the following file path:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\
Step 2: Select all the apps, folders, and files and simply delete them by pressing the “Delete” key. Also, you can press the “Shift + Delete key combination to delete the files permanently.
Suggested Article: Bypass Recycle Bin when Deleting Files and Folders in Windows.
3. Clear Recent Files using File Explorer or This PC
Step 1: Open “This PC” or “File Explorer“ from the Start menu.
Step 2: Click the three-dot menu (also called Meatball menu) on the top bar and select the “options” button from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: The “Folder Options” menu will appear. In the general tab, click the “Clear” option under the “Privacy” Section.
4. Unpin the Pinned Items From Quick Access
Step 1: Open “This PC” or “File Explorer“ from the Start menu and select the quick access tab from the left sidebar.
Step 2: To remove the pinned items from the quick access history, right-click the pinned item and click the “Unpin from Quick Access” button.
Next Steps
We can clear recent files in quick access using any of the following three methods – using file explorer options, This PC or File Explorer or Appdata Folder, as covered above.
Cleaning the recent files in quick access history doesn’t harm the system at all. So, don’t worry about this matter. It totally depends on your preferences whether or not clean quick access history.
Further, customize your computer’s built-in settings by following the related articles below.
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