General Clear File Explorer History in Windows 11


  • Staff
Recent_items_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to clear the Run (Win+R) and File Explorer (Win+E) history for your account in Windows 11.

Clearing your File Explorer history deletes the information Windows saved about the files and folders you use as well as what you've typed in the address bar and Run dialog.

File Explorer history consists of:
  • Recent items in the File Explorer jump list.
  • Quick access folders in File Explorer Home, except default pinned folders.
  • Favorites in File Explorer Home.
  • Recent files in File Explorer Home.
  • File Explorer address bar typed history.
  • Run dialog typed history.

Contents

  • Option One: Only Clear Run and File Explorer Address Bar History
  • Option Two: Clear File Explorer History in Folder Options
  • Option Three: Clear File Explorer History using BAT file


EXAMPLE: History in File Explorer Home

Recent_history_on_File_Explorer_Home.png


EXAMPLE: Recent history in File Explorer jump list

Recent_on_File_Explorer_jump_list.jpg


EXAMPLE: Typed paths history in File Explorer address bar

File_Explorer_address_bar_typed_history.png


EXAMPLE: Typed paths history in Run dialog

Run_typed_history.png






Option One

Only Clear Run and File Explorer Address Bar History


Typed paths history for the Run and File Explorer address bar are saved to the registry keys below for your account.

(File Explorer)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths

(Run)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU


1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Right click in the address bar of File Explorer. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on Delete history.

Clear_File_Explorer_address_bar_history.png





Option Two

Clear File Explorer History in Folder Options


This option will not clear folders pinned to Quick access in File Explorer home.

This option will not clear Favorites in File Explorer Home.

This option will not clear OneDrive items (if listed) under Recent in File Explorer Home.


1 Open Folder Options.

2 In the General tab, click/tap on the Clear button under Privacy. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on OK to close Folder Options.

Clear_File_Explorer_history_Folder_Options.png





Option Three

Clear File Explorer History using BAT file


This option will completely clear all File Explorer history including what Option One couldn't clear.

Clear_all_history_in_File_Explorer_Home.png


1 Click/tap on the download button below to download the Clear_File_Explorer_history_for_current_user.bat file.


(Contents of BAT file for reference)
Code: 
:: Clear history in File Explorer Home
Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*

Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*

Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations\*


:: Clear typed history in Run dialog
reg query HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
if not ErrorLevel 1 reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /F

:: Clear typed history in File Explorer address bar
reg query HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths
if not ErrorLevel 1 reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths /F

2 Save the BAT file to your desktop.

3 Unblock and run the BAT file.

4 You will now see a command prompt quickly flash open and close to run the commands to clear all your File Explorer history.

5 You can now delete the BAT file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

  • Recent_items.png
    Recent_items.png
    6.6 KB · Views: 60
  • Clear_File_Explorer_history_for_current_user.bat
    840 bytes · Views: 170
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Made an account just to say thanks! The BAT file worked great.

Edit: I used option 2 to clear OneDrive files from the Recent Files list
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i9-9900k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix 2x 8GB 3600Mhz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte Aorus Master RTX3070
    Sound Card
    Behringer UMC404HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama G-Master Red Eagle 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1440p 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSDs
    WD HDDs
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus GX-850
    Case
    NZXT S340 Elite
    Cooling
    NZXT Kraken
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    350Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
dkhemmen said:
Made an account just to say thanks! The BAT file worked great.

Edit: I used option 2 to clear OneDrive files from the Recent Files list
Click to expand...

I'm glad it could help dkhemmen, and welcome. :shawn:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    1TB Samsung 980 PRO M.2,
    6TB WD Black WD6001FZWX
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1
    CPU
    i7-1065G7 3.9 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR4-3200
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" 4K UWVA AMOLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
just like dkhemmen i have that list of onedrive folders that won't disappear but unfortunately both options didn't work for me, even weirder i got that on both my pcs that are linked to my MS account so it seems this bug is even synced across computers...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Thanks @Brink,

reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /F - as a Bat file just to clear the run history makes it easy. (y)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro & 🐥.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X509DA (FP5)
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX Vega 10 Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 1 TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe M.2
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ACER NITRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5800H / 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    CZ Scala_CAS (FP6)
    Memory
    16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio. NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" LED backlight 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) 144 Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB NVMe M.2
    PSU
    180 Watt, 19.5 V
    Mouse
    Lenovo Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
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