How to Disable Displaying Recent Files in File Explorer on Windows 10

This guide is very useful if you share your computer or laptop with someone else and, for privacy reasons, you want to disable the display of recent files in File Explorer on Windows 10.

File Explorer from Windows 10 differs from previous systems in its default display of the Home folder, replacing Libraries (Windows Vista and Windows 7) or This PC (Windows 8). They can still be accessed from the Navigation Panel (left side). In the Home folder, you can find both the favorite folders set by the system, as well as the folders and files recently accessed by users.

While this feature can be useful for users by giving them quick access to recently used files and folders, those who frequently share their computer with others will probably want to disable their display in Home to protect their privacy.

How to Disable Displaying Recent Files in File Explorer on Windows 10
Recent Files in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to Disable Displaying Recent Files in File Explorer on Windows 10

One of the methods to disable this display in File Explorer on Windows 10 is to use the Taskbar and Start Menu properties by unchecking the option "Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar" in the Start Menu tab.

Related: How to Check If Someone Has Accessed Your Computer (Windows)

However, using this option, you will no longer be able to access recently opened folders and files from Start Menu or Taskbar (jumplist). If you want to disable their display only in the Home folder, but still be able to access them from Start Menu or Taskbar, follow the instructions below (before using this method, make sure to backup your registries or a restore point to return to system defaults):

1. Open the Registry Editor (type “regedit” in Run and press Enter), then navigate to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HomeFolder\NameSpace\DelegateFolders.

2. In DelegateFolders, you will find three entries (on the left side), each corresponding to a category of folders or files displayed in Home: the first entry is related to recently accessed folders, the second to recently accessed files, and the third to favorite folders.

3. To disable the display of recently accessed folders and files in File Explorer, delete the first two entries under DelegateFolders (if you want to disable the display of favorite folders, you can also delete the third entry).

After this step, you have successfully disabled the display of recent files in File Explorer on Windows 10.

If you later want to redisplay recently accessed folders and files in Home, use the registry backup or the restore point created before making the changes. Success!

Note: To backup only the Delegate keyFolders (under which are the three entries corresponding to recently accessed folders, recently accessed files and favorite folders), right-click on it and select Export.

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