How to Hide Recent Files in Windows 11 Start Menu

Option 1Managing Recent Files with Windows Settings

The built-in Settings app ⚙️ offers a quick way to show or hide recent files on the Start menu ⊞. This method lets you decide if you want your recently opened documents and apps to appear for quick access.

1. Open Settings ⚙️. Press the Win+I on your keyboard. Or, click the Start button ⊞ and then click the gear icon for Settings.
2. Go to Personalization. In the Settings ⚙️ window, click Personalization on the left side. Then, on the right side, click Start.
3. Adjust the settings ⚙️. You will see a few options here:

   • “Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer 📁, and items in Jump Lists”: This is the main switch. If you turn this On, Windows will show recent files in the Start menu ⊞’s “Recommended” section and in File Explorer 📁 jump lists. This is the default. Turn this Off to hide recent files.
     
   • “Show recent items in jump lists and File Explorer 📁”: This setting is similar. If you turn this On (default), recent items will appear. Turning it Off will hide them and also clear your current list of recent items. So, turning this off will erase your history.

   To hide recent files completely, turn both of these options Off. To show them, make sure both are turned On.

4. Close Settings. Your changes should appear right away. Sometimes, you might need to restart File Explorer 📁 or your computer for everything to update.

Option 2Using the Registry Editor to Control Recent Files

For more precise control over showing or hiding recent files on the Windows 11 Start menu, you can use the Registry Editor. This advanced method allows you to make specific adjustments, but it’s important to be careful as incorrect changes can cause system issues.

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Open Registry Editor. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter, or click OK. You might see a User Account Control (UAC) message; click Yes.
2. Go to the correct location. In the Registry Editor, look at the left side. You need to go to this path:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
   

   You can copy and paste this path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor and press Enter.

   📝Note

   The path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ means these changes will only affect the user who is currently logged in. For this specific setting, this path is the one that controls recommendations.

3. Find or create the "Start_TrackDocs" value. In the right side of the Registry Editor, look for a value named Start_TrackDocs. It should be a DWORD (32-bit) Value.

   • If it exists: Double-click Start_TrackDocs to change its data.
     
   • If it doesn't exist: Right-click on an empty space on the right side, select New, then select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new value exactly Start_TrackDocs.
4. Set the value data. This tells Windows whether to show or hide recent files:
   

   • To show recent files (default): Set the "Value data" to 1.
     
   • To hide recent files: Set the "Value data" to 0.
     

   Click OK after entering the value.

5. Close Registry Editor. The changes usually happen immediately. You might need to restart File Explorer (using Task Manager) or log out and back in for them to fully work.
   

Option 3Controlling Recent Files for All Users (Pro/Enterprise Editions)

If you have Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor to manage recent files for all users on your PC. This powerful tool lets you set whether recent files appear on the Start menu for everyone, offering a system-wide solution.

Important: The Local Group Policy Editor isn't included in Windows 11 Home edition. If you have the Home edition, stick with Option 1 or Option 2.

1. Open Local Group Policy Editor. Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter or click OK.
2. Go to the policy. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, go to:
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
   
3. Find the policy. In the right pane, look for a policy named "Do not keep history of recently opened documents." Double-click it.
4. Configure the policy. You have three choices:
   

   • Not Configured: This means the policy isn't active. Windows uses its default behavior or what individual users have set in Settings.
     
   • Enabled: If you choose Enabled, Windows will not keep a history of recently opened documents. This hides recent files from the Start menu, File Explorer, and jump lists for all users.
     
   • Disabled: If you choose Disabled, Windows will keep a history of recently opened documents. This turns the feature on for all users.
     

   To hide recent files for all users in Windows 11, select the "Enabled" option. To show recent files for all users, select "Disabled" or "Not Configured," which lets you manage the setting in Windows Settings.

   Click OK after choosing.

5. Close Local Group Policy Editor. Your changes should apply automatically. You might need to restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
   

Summary

To control recent files on your Windows 11 Start menu, the primary method is through the Settings app. For more advanced control or to apply changes to all users on Pro/Enterprise versions, you can use the Registry Editor or Local Group Policy Editor, always remembering to back up your system first.