How to Remove Recent Files From Quick Access in Windows 11

Quick Tips

• On computers running Windows 11 version 22H2 (Build 22593) or later, Microsoft has renamed Quick Access in File Explorer to Home.
• Windows allows for the removal of specific entries or clearing out of the entire Quick Access list at once.
• You can also prevent Quick Access from displaying any recent files altogether.

Remove Files and Folders From Quick Access in File Explorer

If you want to remove only specific files or folders from Quick Access (or Home) in File Explorer, follow the below steps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer on your PC and click Home or Quick Access on the left sidebar.

Step 2: Locate and select the entry you want to delete. Hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple entries. Right-click on your selection and choose Remove from Recent from the context menu.

Likewise, you can also remove any pinned folders. Right-click on the folder you want to remove and select Unpin from Quick access.

Remove All Entries From Quick Access at Once

While it is simple to delete a file or folder from Quick Access in File Explorer using the method mentioned above, it is not the most efficient way to clear all the entries.

To delete all the recent files and folders from Quick Access at once, use these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu. Type file explorer options in the search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Go to the General tab and click on Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.

Prevent File Explorer From Showing Recent Files and Folders in Quick Access

Don’t want to delete Quick Access entries manually all the time? If so, you can prevent Windows from adding files and folders to the Quick Access (or Home) section. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + E to open the File Explorer > click the three-dot menu icon at the top > select Options.

Step 2: In the File Explorer Options window, switch to the General tab. Under the Privacy section, uncheck the boxes for Show recently used files and Show frequently used folders. Then, hit Apply followed by OK to save changes.

After that, File Explorer won’t display any entries in the Quick Access (or Home) section except for the folders you have pinned manually.