In Windows 10, when you open File Explorer, by default it shows 'Favorites', 'Frequent Folders', and 'Recent Files'. All over Windows, you'll see menus with the most recently used items for a given application, documents, or some videos you recently watched. Frequent folder showing you important folders in your account such as downloads, documents, pictures, music and folders you've pinned or accessed recently.
If you don't want to see them in File Explorer, you can easily hide them, here is how.
Open File Explorer by click on Start > File Explorer ( Win + E ) and click View > Options. In the Folder Options dialog windows, under General tab, choose 'This PC' and uncheck the following boxes.
Now click on apply and tap on 'OK' to save the changes.
Note : To delete recent files shortcut, press Win + R and open run command, type recent and select all items by pressing Ctrl + A, hit enter.
To turn off recent items and frequent places in Windows 7 and 8.1 follow the steps given below.
In Windows 7, right click or press and hold on a empty area on the taskbar and click properties. This will open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, click on Start menu and uncheck the box displaying "Store and display recently opened program in the Start menu" and Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar".
In Windows 8.1, right click or press and hold on a empty area on the taskbar and click "Properties". In the Jump List, uncheck the box displaying "Store recently opened program" and "Store and display recently opened items in Jump Lists".
If you don't want to see them in File Explorer, you can easily hide them, here is how.
How to Hide Favorites, Frequent Folders, and Recent Files on Windows 10
Open File Explorer by click on Start > File Explorer ( Win + E ) and click View > Options. In the Folder Options dialog windows, under General tab, choose 'This PC' and uncheck the following boxes.
- Show recently used files in Quick access.
- Show frequently used folders in Quick access.
Now click on apply and tap on 'OK' to save the changes.
Note : To delete recent files shortcut, press Win + R and open run command, type recent and select all items by pressing Ctrl + A, hit enter.
To turn off recent items and frequent places in Windows 7 and 8.1 follow the steps given below.
In Windows 7, right click or press and hold on a empty area on the taskbar and click properties. This will open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, click on Start menu and uncheck the box displaying "Store and display recently opened program in the Start menu" and Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar".
In Windows 8.1, right click or press and hold on a empty area on the taskbar and click "Properties". In the Jump List, uncheck the box displaying "Store recently opened program" and "Store and display recently opened items in Jump Lists".
