How to Deactivate Recent Files in Windows 10

The Recent Files feature in Windows 10 provides quick access to recently opened documents, images, and other files. While this can be a convenient way to find recently used files, it can also be a privacy concern or a security risk, especially if you share your computer with others or use it in a public setting.

Additionally, if you're working on sensitive or confidential files, you may not want them to appear in the Recent Files list. Deactivating the Recent Files feature can help protect your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized access to your recently opened files.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps on how to disable the Recent Files feature in Windows 10. We'll provide detailed instructions for both the Settings app and the Group Policy Editor method.

How to Deactivate Recent Files in Windows 10

To protect privacy and security, follow these steps:

• Open Settings app.
• Select "Personalization".
• Choose "Start".
• Disable "Show recently opened items".
• Use Group Policy Editor.
• Navigate to "Computer Configuration".
• Find "Administrative Templates".
• Select "Start Menu and Taskbar".
• Disable "Store and display recently opened items".
• Apply changes and restart.

With these steps, you can effectively disable the Recent Files feature in Windows 10, enhancing your privacy and security.

Open Settings app.

To begin the process of deactivating recent files in Windows 10, you must first open the Settings app. This can be done in several ways:

• Click the Start button and select the gear icon.
  

  This is the most common way to open the Settings app. The Start button is located in the bottom-left corner of your screen, and the gear icon is next to your profile picture.

• Press the Windows key + I.
  

  This is a keyboard shortcut that will directly open the Settings app.

• Right-click the Start button and select "Settings".
  

  This is another way to open the Settings app. Right-clicking the Start button will bring up a menu, and "Settings" will be one of the options.

• Use the search box.
  

  You can also use the search box in the taskbar to open the Settings app. Simply type "Settings" into the search box and click on the result that appears.

Once you have opened the Settings app, you are ready to proceed to the next step of deactivating recent files in Windows 10.

Select "Personalization".

Once you have opened the Settings app, you will see a list of categories. Click on the category labeled "Personalization". This category contains settings related to the appearance and behavior of your Windows 10 system, including the Start menu, taskbar, and lock screen.

In the "Personalization" settings, you will see a number of options. Click on the option labeled "Start". This section contains settings related to the Start menu, including the layout, color, and behavior of the menu.

In the "Start" settings, you will see a section labeled "Show recently opened items". This section contains two options: "Show recently opened items in Start, taskbar, and File Explorer" and "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists".

To deactivate recent files in Windows 10, you need to disable both of these options. Click on the toggle switch next to each option to turn it off. Once you have disabled both options, the Recent Files feature will be deactivated.

You can now close the Settings app. The changes you have made will be applied immediately. You will no longer see recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, or Jump Lists.

Choose "Start".

In the "Personalization" settings, you will see a number of options. Click on the option labeled "Start". This section contains settings related to the Start menu, including the layout, color, and behavior of the menu.

• Start menu layout:
  

  This setting allows you to choose between two different layouts for the Start menu: the traditional layout, which has a list of apps on the left side and tiles on the right side, and the full-screen layout, which fills the entire screen with tiles.

• Choose which folders appear on Start:
  

  This setting allows you to choose which folders appear on the Start menu. You can choose from a variety of folders, including Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Music.

• Choose whether to show recently added apps:
  

  This setting allows you to choose whether to show recently added apps on the Start menu. If you disable this setting, recently added apps will not appear on the Start menu.

• Show more tiles:
  

  This setting allows you to choose whether to show more tiles on the Start menu. If you enable this setting, more tiles will be displayed on the Start menu, making it easier to find the apps you want.

Once you have made your selections, click on the "Apply" button to save your changes. The changes you have made will be applied immediately. You will see the new Start menu layout and settings the next time you open the Start menu.

Disable "Show recently opened items".

In the "Start" settings, you will see a section labeled "Show recently opened items". This section contains two options: "Show recently opened items in Start, taskbar, and File Explorer" and "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists".

• Show recently opened items in Start, taskbar, and File Explorer:
  

  This option controls whether recently opened items appear in the Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer. If you disable this option, recently opened items will not appear in any of these locations.

• Show recently opened items in Jump Lists:
  

  This option controls whether recently opened items appear in the Jump Lists of apps. Jump Lists are the menus that appear when you right-click on an app's icon in the taskbar or Start menu. If you disable this option, recently opened items will not appear in Jump Lists.

To deactivate recent files in Windows 10, you need to disable both of these options. Click on the toggle switch next to each option to turn it off. Once you have disabled both options, the Recent Files feature will be deactivated.

You can now close the Settings app. The changes you have made will be applied immediately. You will no longer see recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, or Jump Lists.

Use Group Policy Editor.

The Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to configure a wide range of settings on your Windows 10 system. You can use the Group Policy Editor to disable the Recent Files feature in Windows 10.

To open the Group Policy Editor, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Then, type "gpedit.msc" into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Editor.

In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following location:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

In the "Start Menu and Taskbar" folder, find the setting labeled "Store and display recently opened items". Double-click on this setting to open it.

In the "Store and display recently opened items" dialog box, select the "Disabled" option. Then, click on the "Apply" button and then the "OK" button to save your changes.

Once you have made this change, the Recent Files feature will be disabled in Windows 10. You will no longer see recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, or Jump Lists.

Note that the Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10. If you are using the Home edition of Windows 10, you will not be able to use the Group Policy Editor to disable the Recent Files feature.

Navigate to "Computer Configuration".

To begin using the Group Policy Editor to disable the Recent Files feature in Windows 10, you must first navigate to the "Computer Configuration" folder. This folder contains settings that apply to the entire computer, including all user accounts.

• Open the Group Policy Editor.
  

  Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Then, type "gpedit.msc" into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Editor.

• Expand the "Computer Configuration" folder.
  

  In the left pane of the Group Policy Editor, you will see a list of folders. The top folder is labeled "Computer Configuration". Click on the arrow next to the "Computer Configuration" folder to expand it.

• Locate the "Administrative Templates" folder.
  

  Once you have expanded the "Computer Configuration" folder, you will see a number of subfolders. One of the subfolders is labeled "Administrative Templates". Click on the arrow next to the "Administrative Templates" folder to expand it.

• Open the "Start Menu and Taskbar" folder.
  

  Once you have expanded the "Administrative Templates" folder, you will see another list of subfolders. One of the subfolders is labeled "Start Menu and Taskbar". Click on the arrow next to the "Start Menu and Taskbar" folder to expand it.

Once you have expanded the "Start Menu and Taskbar" folder, you will see a list of settings that you can configure. The setting that you are looking for is labeled "Store and display recently opened items".

Find "Administrative Templates".

Once you have expanded the "Computer Configuration" folder in the Group Policy Editor, you will see a number of subfolders. One of the subfolders is labeled "Administrative Templates". This folder contains settings that control various aspects of the Windows operating system, including the Start menu and taskbar.

To find the "Administrative Templates" folder, simply click on the arrow next to the "Computer Configuration" folder to expand it. Then, scroll down until you see the "Administrative Templates" folder. Once you have found the "Administrative Templates" folder, click on it to open it.

Once you have opened the "Administrative Templates" folder, you will see a list of subfolders. These subfolders contain settings for different components of the Windows operating system. The subfolder that you are looking for is labeled "Start Menu and Taskbar".

To find the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, simply scroll down until you see it. Once you have found the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, click on it to open it.

Once you have opened the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, you will see a list of settings that you can configure. The setting that you are looking for is labeled "Store and display recently opened items".

Select "Start Menu and Taskbar".

Once you have expanded the "Administrative Templates" folder and located the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, you need to select it in order to view the settings that it contains.

• Click on the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder.
  

  To select the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, simply click on it once with your mouse. This will highlight the subfolder and display its contents in the right pane of the Group Policy Editor.

• Verify that you are in the correct subfolder.
  

  Once you have clicked on the "Start Menu and Taskbar" subfolder, make sure that you are actually in the correct subfolder. The title of the subfolder should be displayed at the top of the right pane of the Group Policy Editor. If you are not in the correct subfolder, click on the "Back" button in the toolbar to go back to the previous folder.

• Locate the "Store and display recently opened items" setting.
  

  Once you are in the correct subfolder, you need to locate the "Store and display recently opened items" setting. This setting is usually located near the top of the list of settings in the right pane of the Group Policy Editor.

• Double-click on the "Store and display recently opened items" setting.
  

  To open the "Store and display recently opened items" setting, double-click on it with your mouse. This will open a dialog box where you can configure the setting.

Once you have double-clicked on the "Store and display recently opened items" setting, you can proceed to the next step, which is to disable the setting.

Disable "Store and display recently opened items".

Once you have opened the "Store and display recently opened items" setting, you can disable it by following these steps:

• Select the "Disabled" option.
  

  In the "Store and display recently opened items" dialog box, there are three options: "Not Configured", "Enabled", and "Disabled". To disable the setting, select the "Disabled" option.

• Click on the "Apply" button.
  

  Once you have selected the "Disabled" option, click on the "Apply" button to save your changes. This will disable the Recent Files feature in Windows 10.

• Click on the "OK" button.
  

  Finally, click on the "OK" button to close the "Store and display recently opened items" dialog box.

• Close the Group Policy Editor.
  

  Once you have disabled the "Store and display recently opened items" setting, you can close the Group Policy Editor. To do this, simply click on the "X" button in the top-right corner of the Group Policy Editor window.

Once you have closed the Group Policy Editor, the Recent Files feature will be disabled in Windows 10. You will no longer see recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, or Jump Lists.

Apply changes and restart.

Once you have disabled the "Store and display recently opened items" setting in the Group Policy Editor, you need to apply the changes and restart your computer in order for the changes to take effect.

To apply the changes, click on the "Apply" button in the Group Policy Editor window. Then, click on the "OK" button to close the Group Policy Editor window.

Once you have applied the changes, you need to restart your computer. To do this, click on the Start button and then click on the power icon. Then, select the "Restart" option.

Once your computer has restarted, the Recent Files feature will be disabled. You will no longer see recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, or Jump Lists.

It is important to note that you may need to restart any open applications in order for the changes to take effect. For example, if you have File Explorer open, you may need to close and then reopen File Explorer in order to see the changes.

FAQ

Introduction Paragraph for FAQ:

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about how to deactivate recent files in Windows 10:

Question 1: Why would I want to deactivate recent files in Windows 10?

Answer 1: There are a few reasons why you might want to deactivate recent files in Windows 10. For example, you might want to protect your privacy by preventing others from seeing the files you have recently opened. You might also want to disable recent files to improve performance or to free up space on your hard drive.

Question 2: How do I deactivate recent files in Windows 10 using the Settings app?

Answer 2: To deactivate recent files in Windows 10 using the Settings app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Click on "Personalization".
3. Select "Start".
4. Disable "Show recently opened items".

Question 3: How do I deactivate recent files in Windows 10 using the Group Policy Editor?

Answer 3: To deactivate recent files in Windows 10 using the Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar".
3. Double-click on "Store and display recently opened items".
4. Select the "Disabled" option.
5. Click on "Apply" and then "OK".

Question 4: Do I need to restart my computer after deactivating recent files?

Answer 4: Yes, you need to restart your computer after deactivating recent files in order for the changes to take effect.

Question 5: Will deactivating recent files affect my other files?

Answer 5: No, deactivating recent files will not affect your other files. It will only prevent Windows 10 from displaying recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and Jump Lists.

Question 6: Can I still access recently opened files after deactivating recent files?

Answer 6: Yes, you can still access recently opened files after deactivating recent files. You can do this by using the File Explorer or by searching for the files using the Windows search bar.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about how to deactivate recent files in Windows 10. If you have any other questions, please consult the Microsoft support website.

Closing Paragraph for FAQ:

I hope this FAQ has been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Tips

Introduction Paragraph for Tips:

Here are a few tips for deactivating recent files in Windows 10:

Tip 1: Use the keyboard shortcut.

If you want to quickly deactivate recent files in Windows 10, you can use the following keyboard shortcut:

Windows key + R

This will open the Run dialog box. Then, type "gpedit.msc" into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Group Policy Editor.

Tip 2: Deactivate recent files for all users.

If you want to deactivate recent files for all users on your computer, you can do so using the Group Policy Editor. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar".
3. Double-click on "Store and display recently opened items".
4. Select the "Disabled" option.
5. Click on "Apply" and then "OK".

Tip 3: Use a third-party tool.

If you are not comfortable using the Group Policy Editor, you can use a third-party tool to deactivate recent files in Windows 10. There are a number of third-party tools available, such as CCleaner and Privacy Eraser. These tools can be used to quickly and easily deactivate recent files.

Tip 4: Disable recent files in File Explorer.

In addition to deactivating recent files in the Start menu and taskbar, you can also disable recent files in File Explorer. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the "View" tab.
3. Uncheck the "Show recently used files in Quick Access" option.

Closing Paragraph for Tips:

These are just a few tips for deactivating recent files in Windows 10. By following these tips, you can protect your privacy and improve the performance of your computer.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please consult the Microsoft support website or leave a comment below.

Conclusion

Summary of Main Points:

In this article, we have discussed how to deactivate recent files in Windows 10. We have provided detailed instructions for both the Settings app and the Group Policy Editor method. We have also provided some tips for deactivating recent files and answered some frequently asked questions.

Closing Message:

Deactivating recent files in Windows 10 can be a useful way to protect your privacy and improve the performance of your computer. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable the Recent Files feature and prevent Windows 10 from displaying recently opened files in the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and Jump Lists.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please consult the Microsoft support website or leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading!

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