Starting with Windows 11 build 22593, Quick access in File Explorer (Win+E) is now called Home. The name Quick access has been repurposed for the pinned/frequent Folders section, and Pinned files is now called Favorites to align with Office and OneDrive. Recent and pinned files (Favorites) displayed in Home are now searchable using the search box in File Explorer even if they are not local files, so you can find Office files recently shared with you.
Home in the navigation pane is the default homepage of File Explorer (Win+E) that allows you to quickly access and view your pinned/frequent folders (Quick access), Favorites (pinned files), and Recent files from one location.
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove showing Recent files in File Explorer Home for your account in Windows 11.
If you turn off Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer, it will also remove Recent from File Explorer Home.
Contents
- Option One: Remove Specific File(s) from Recent in File Explorer Home
- Option Two: Add or Remove Recent in File Explorer Home in Folder Options
- Option Three: Add or Remove Recent in File Explorer Home using REG file
EXAMPLE: Recent files in File Explorer Home
1 Open Home in File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
2 Under Recent, select one or more files you want to remove from Recent.
3 Right click on the selected file(s), and click/tap on Remove from Recent.
Removing file(s) from Recent in File Explorer Home will not delete the file(s). It only removes them from your recent history.
When you remove Recent from File Explorer Home, it will clear your recent files history.
1 Open Folder Options.
2 Click/tap on the General tab. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Privacy, check (add - default) or uncheck (remove) Show recently used files for what you want.
4 Click/tap on OK.
When you remove Recent from File Explorer Home, it will clear your recent files history.
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add Recent in File Explorer Home
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Recent_files_in_File_Explorer_Home.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShowRecent"=dword:000000013 Remove Recent in File Explorer Home
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Recent_files_in_File_Explorer_Home.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"ShowRecent"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 If Home in File Explorer is currently open, then refresh (F5) or close and open the window to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- View Recently Opened Files in Windows 11
- Clear File Explorer History in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Home in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Recent Items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer in Windows 11
- Add and Remove Favorites in File Explorer Home in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Frequent Folders in Quick Access in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Show Files from Office.com in File Explorer Home in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Quick Access in File Explorer Home in Windows 11
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