How to Hide Office.com Files in Windows 11 File Explorer

Windows 11 File Explorer has a Home view that organizes your files. By default, it may show files from your Office.com account. If you want a cleaner look, you can easily turn this off.

Why Manage Office.com Files?

Windows 11 File Explorer Home view often displays cloud-based file recommendations from your Microsoft 365 account. While this helps some users, others find it distracting or a privacy concern. Managing these settings allows you to declutter your workspace and keep your personal and professional files separate.

What happens when you are done?

When you disable these settings, the Office.com files will no longer appear in your File Explorer Home page. This does not delete the files from the cloud; it simply stops Windows from showing them as suggestions in your local file manager.

Method 1: Using Folder Options

This is the easiest way to change the setting for your user account.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the three dots (…) in the top menu and select Options.
3. Under the General tab, look for the Privacy section.
4. Check or uncheck the box labeled Show files from Office.com.
5. Click OK to save.

Method 2: Using Local Group Policy Editor (Admin Required)

This method applies the change to all users on the computer.

1. Press the Windows key and search for Edit group policy. Select the result.
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
3. Find the setting named Turn off files from Office.com in Quick access view and double-click it.
4. Choose Enabled to hide the files or Disabled to show them.
5. Click OK and restart your computer.

Method 3: Using the Windows Registry (Admin Required)

If you cannot use the policy editor, you can edit the registry directly.

1. Press the Windows key, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Windows Registry.
2. Go to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
3. If the Explorer folder does not exist, right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it Explorer.
4. Right-click in the empty space on the right, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DisableGraphRecentItems.
5. Double-click DisableGraphRecentItems. Set the value to 1 to hide the files, or 0 to show them.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting Sync and Updates

If your Office.com files reappear after a Windows 11 22H2 or 23H2 update, it is likely because the update reset your privacy preferences. Simply repeat the steps above to disable the feature again. If you experience sync issues with OneDrive for Business, ensure your Microsoft 365 account is correctly signed in via Windows Settings > Accounts.

Summary

Managing Office.com files in Windows 11 File Explorer is a simple way to keep your Home view clean. Whether you use Folder Options, Group Policy, or the Registry, you can easily control what appears in your file list. Remember that these changes only affect your view and do not impact your actual cloud storage.