How to enable or disable recent files and frequent folders list in Windows 10

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This tutorial provides instructions for Windows 10 users to disable the Recent files feature in Quick access. This can improve privacy by preventing the display of recently accessed or used files and folders. Steps include changing the settings in File Explorer, clearing the existing history of files, and saving the changes. To re-enable, users can…

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to protect user privacy by turning off recent files in Quick access in Windows 10.

Windows 10 introduced some new features that many might find embarrassing, especially when someone can view your recent activities, which you wanted to keep private.

With Windows 10, File Explorer (previously known as Windows Explorer) opens to the frequent folders and Quick access files pane by default. Therefore, every file or folder recently opened or accessed is displayed on this page.

Turning off recent files and frequent folders list in Windows 10 can help protect user privacy. By default, Windows 10’s File Explorer opens to the frequent folders and Quick access files pane, which displays every file or folder recently opened or accessed. This feature can be convenient but embarrassing if someone else views your recent activities.

Therefore, some users must turn off this feature for privacy reasons. By turning it off, Windows 10 computers will not show your frequently or recently used files and folders, which may become a privacy issue.

Windows 10 File Explorer

First, log on to your Windows 10 machine and open File Explorer. File Explorer is accessed from the folder icon next to the start button on the bottom taskbar.

When File Explorer opens, click the View tab, then Options, as shown in the image below.

Turn off Quick access below under Privacy:

  • Show recently used files in Quick access
  • Show frequently used folders in Quick access

While there, also click the Clear button to delete the File Explorer history of existing listings.

On the same dialog box, change where File Explorer opens. Instead of opening it to Quick access, change File Explorer to open it to This PC, as shown in the highlighted image below.

Click OK and save your changes.

Doing this will prevent Windows 10 computers from showing your frequently or recently used files and folders, which may become a privacy issue.

To re-enable, return to the Folder Options panel, click the Restore Defaults button, and click OK.

That’s it!

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