Windows 11's Quick Access feature conveniently lists your most recently used files, helping you quickly return to your work. However, if you share your computer or simply prefer more privacy, you might want to hide or clear these recent files from the Quick Access section. In this guide, we'll show you how to manage your recent files in Quick Access and the Start menu.

Hide or Show Recent Files and Frequent Folders in Quick Access

To prevent recent files and frequent folders from appearing in Quick Access, follow these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar.
  1. If File Explorer doesn't open to Quick access by default, click on Quick access at the top of the left sidebar.
  1. In the Quick Access window, click the See more button (three dots) on the toolbar.
  1. Select Options from the dropdown menu.
  1. In the Folder Options window, under the Privacy section, uncheck the boxes next to Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access.
  1. Click OK to apply the changes.

To display recent files and frequent folders again, repeat the steps above and check the boxes in the Privacy section.

Clear Recent Files and Frequent Folders History

If you'd prefer to keep the Quick Access feature enabled but want to clear your current history, you can manually clear the recent files and frequent folders:

  1. Open File Explorer, click the See more button (three dots), and select Options to open the Folder Options window.
  1. Under the Privacy section, click the Clear button.

This will remove all your recent files and frequent folders from Quick Access without disabling the feature.

Windows 11 also displays recently opened files and apps in the Recommended section of the Start menu. To protect your privacy, you can remove individual items or disable this feature entirely.

To remove a single file or app from the Recommended section:

  1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.
  2. In the Recommended section, right-click the item you want to remove.
  3. Select Remove from list from the context menu.

You will need to repeat these steps for each item you wish to remove.

To disable recent items from appearing in the Start menu altogether:

  1. Press the Windows key and select Settings.
  1. In the Settings window, click on Personalization in the left sidebar.
  1. Scroll down and select Start.
  1. Toggle off the option Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.

Now, your recently opened files and apps will no longer appear in the Start menu's Recommended section.

By following these steps, you can manage the display of recent files and apps in Windows 11, enhancing your privacy while using your computer.