Last Updated on June 14, 2026
If you have ever right clicked on a program icon or shortcut in the Windows taskbar, you might have noticed that you will see a listing of your recently opened files or folders. This is what is referred to as a jump list and is an easy way to see the history of opened files related to that specific app. When you open the Windows File Explorer app, you will most likely see a listing of recently opened files and folders as well.
So, if you are the type who prefers to keep their history hidden, you can disable the jump list entries and File Explorer recent file history as needed. In this article, we will be showing you how to enable or disable recent file and folder jump lists in Windows as well as the File Explorer recent files feature. Knowing how to show or hide your file history in Windows is part of becoming proficient with Windows file and folder management.
Locating Your Recent File History
1. Inspect the Taskbar Jump Lists
The image below shows the jump list when you right click on the taskbar icon for Microsoft Word. You can also view these recently opened files when right clicking on the Word icon from the Apps section after clicking on the Start button. You can also see recent files for other apps by right clicking their specific icons.
2. Check the File Explorer Recent Section
File Explorer also has a recent file and folder list baked into the default interface. You can use this panel to open recently worked on files quickly. This also exposes your workflow to anyone looking at your monitor.
3. Look at the Start Menu Recommended Section
You will also see recent file history when clicking on the Start button directly. Look closely under the Recommended section at the bottom. Having these jump lists and recent files enabled may be fine for some people. If you prefer to keep your file history hidden, you can easily disable these options as needed.
Disabling System-Wide Jump Lists and History
1. Open the Personalization Settings
There are a couple of ways to go about disabling the history for jump lists, File Explorer and the Start menu. If you want to disable recent file and folder jump lists as well as the recent and recommended sections all at once, you must open the Windows settings. Navigate directly to Personalization and then click on Start.
2. Toggle the Recent Items Setting
From here you can disable the setting for Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists and File Explorer. Flip the toggle switch to the off position. There are also some additional settings you can disable such as showing recently added apps and show most used apps.
3. Verify the Cleared Jump Lists
Once you disable this setting, you can then go back to your taskbar and Start menu icons. Right click on them to test the change. You will see that your recent file history is no longer there. The menu is completely clean.
4. Confirm File Explorer Changes
Then you can open File Explorer to check the quick access panel. You will also see that there is no longer a Recent section displayed. Your local file history is now completely hidden from view.
Disabling History Only in File Explorer
1. Open Folder Options
Now if you want to keep your jump lists intact yet remove the recent items from File Explorer, you must use a different method. You can go to the Folder Options settings directly inside File Explorer. Click the three dots at the top menu and select options to open this dialog box.
2. Uncheck the Privacy Boxes
Make sure you are on the General tab. Look down at the Privacy section at the bottom. Uncheck the box for Show recently used files. You can also uncheck the boxes for Show frequently used folders and Show files from Office.com if you do not want any recent items to be shown.
3. Clear the Remaining History
Once you uncheck the boxes under the Privacy section, you need to wipe the existing cache. You can then click on the Clear button to remove any remaining file history. This wipes out anything that you might still see lingering in File Explorer.
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