How to show or hide Recent Files on Start Menu in Windows 11

Showing or hiding recent files on the Windows 11 Start menu lets you control what appears in the “Recommended” section.

The Start menu’s Recommended section shows recently opened files, apps, and suggestions. You can turn this feature off to declutter your Start screen.

This setting specifically affects only the Start menu’s Recommended area. It won’t remove recent files from other places on your PC.

Option 1Using Settings to Show or Hide Recent Files

You can easily show or hide recent files on your Windows 11 ⊞ Start Menu using ⚙️ the Settings app. Simply open Settings, go to Personalization, and then click on Start to find the option to control recent file visibility.

1. Open the Settings app. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. In ⚙️ the Settings window, click on Personalization in the left-hand menu. Then, on the right side, click on Start.
3. Look for the section labeled Layout options. You will see an option called “Show recent and suggested files.”

   • To show recent files: Make sure the box next to this option is checked. This is the default setting.
   • To hide recent files: Uncheck the box next to this option.
4. You can now close ⚙️ the Settings app.

Option 2Using the Registry Editor to Show or Hide Recent Files

If you prefer using the Registry Editor, you can also show or hide recent files on your Windows 11 ⊞ Start Menu. Before you start, remember that editing the registry can be risky, so back it up first, and you’ll need administrator rights for these steps.

Open the Run Box

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard at the same time. The “Run” box will appear.

Start the Registry Editor

1. In the “Open:” field of the Run box, type regedit.
2. Press Enter or click “OK.”

1. The Registry Editor looks a bit like 📁 File Explorer. You need to go to a specific section called a “key.”
2. Carefully type or copy and paste this path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start
3. Press Enter after you paste the path. This will take you to the correct spot.

Find or Create “ShowSuggestedFiles”

1. Look at the right side of the Registry Editor window. You are looking for something called ShowSuggestedFiles.
2. It might already be there. If not, don’t worry.

How to create it if it’s missing:

1. 🖱️ Right-click on an empty space on the right side.
2. A menu will appear. Move your mouse over “New.”
3. Click on “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
4. A new item will appear. Type ShowSuggestedFiles and press .

Set the Value

To show recent files:

Change the value of a setting called ShowSuggestedFiles to 1.

To hide recent files:

Change the value of a setting called ShowSuggestedFiles to 0.

Summary:

You can control whether recent files appear in your Windows 11 ⊞ Start menu using ⚙️ the Settings app. For more advanced users, the Registry Editor can also be used, but caution is advised.