How to Clear File Explorer History in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 19, 2025

If you often use File Explorer in Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed it keeps a record of your recent files, folders, and searches. While this feature helps you access items quickly, it can also clutter your workspace—or worse, expose private data to anyone using your PC.

Don’t worry. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to clear File Explorer history in Windows 11 step by step, explore different methods, and even show you how to disable history tracking if you prefer more privacy.

đź“ť Key Takeaways

  • File Explorer saves recent files, quick access folders, and search history by default.

  • You can clear File Explorer history through Folder Options, Command Prompt, Registry Editor, or Group Policy Editor.

  • Disabling history prevents Windows from tracking your activity in File Explorer.

  • Great for improving privacy, security, and decluttering your workspace.

Why Should You Clear File Explorer History?

Here are a few common reasons:

  • đź”’ Privacy — Prevent others from seeing which files or folders you recently accessed.

  • 🧹 Declutter — Start fresh with a clean File Explorer window.

  • ⚡ Performance — Fix minor glitches in File Explorer caused by cached history.

  • đź’Ľ Professional use — Keep sensitive work files from showing up in recent history.

Method 1: Clear File Explorer History via Folder Options (Easiest)

This is the most straightforward way for most users.

Steps:

  1. Open File Explorer

    • Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. Access Folder Options

    • Click the three-dot menu on the top toolbar.

    • Select Options.

  3. Clear History

    • In the General tab, find the Privacy section.

    • Click the Clear button next to “Clear File Explorer history.”

  4. Apply Changes

    • Click OK or Apply to save settings.

âś… Done! Your recent files and folder history will be wiped.

Method 2: Clear File Explorer Search History Manually

If you just want to clear search history (not recent files):

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Click on the search bar in the top-right corner.

  3. Start typing → a dropdown of past searches appears.

  4. Use the arrow keys to select an item → press Delete.

⚡ This only clears individual search items, not the entire history.

Method 3: Clear File Explorer History Using Command Prompt

Tech-savvy users can do this quickly with a command.

  1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.

  2. In Command Prompt, type:

    del /f /q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*

  3. Press Enter.

This deletes all recent items stored by File Explorer.

Method 4: Clear File Explorer History via Registry Editor

If you want more control, you can reset File Explorer history directly from the Registry.

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can harm your system if done incorrectly. Always back it up first.

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths

  3. Right-click entries under TypedPaths and delete them.

  4. Close Registry Editor and restart File Explorer.

Method 5: Use Group Policy Editor (Pro & Enterprise Versions Only)

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can prevent Windows from saving history.

  1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer

  3. Find Turn off display of recent search entries in File Explorer.

  4. Double-click it → set it to Enabled → click OK.

This stops File Explorer from tracking your search history.

Method 6: Disable File Explorer History Entirely

If you never want history saved:

  1. Open File Explorer Options (as in Method 1).

  2. In the Privacy section, uncheck:

    • Show recently used files in Quick Access

    • Show frequently used folders in Quick Access

  3. Click Apply → OK.

✅ Now File Explorer won’t save new history at all.

Comparison of Methods

Method Difficulty Clears What? Best For
Folder Options Easy Files, folders, search history Beginners
Search Bar Easy Individual searches only Quick fixes
Command Prompt Medium All recent items Tech users
Registry Editor Hard Typed paths & history Advanced users
Group Policy Medium Stops saving searches Pro/Enterprise

Troubleshooting: File Explorer History Not Clearing?

If history keeps coming back:

  • Restart File Explorer after clearing.

  • Make sure you unchecked Quick Access options in Folder Options.

  • Run a Disk Cleanup to remove cached history.

  • Use CCleaner or another cleanup tool to wipe recent files.

Conclusion

Clearing File Explorer history in Windows 11 is simple, whether you want to protect your privacy, speed up your PC, or just declutter. From the easy Folder Options method to advanced Registry and Group Policy tweaks, you now know multiple ways to control what Windows saves.

👉 For most users, the quickest method is via Folder Options. But if you want permanent privacy, disable history altogether.

FAQs

1. Does clearing File Explorer history delete my actual files?
No. It only deletes shortcuts and logs—your original files remain untouched.

2. How often should I clear File Explorer history?
It depends. If you value privacy, clear it regularly. Otherwise, only when you notice clutter.

3. Can I recover cleared history?
No. Once deleted, File Explorer history cannot be restored.

4. Why does my File Explorer still show old files after clearing history?
Check if Quick Access is enabled. Disable it to fully reset.

5. Can I stop File Explorer from saving history permanently?
Yes. Disable recent files and folders in Folder Options, or use Group Policy on Pro editions.

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