Disable Recent Files in Quick Access via Regedit

Windows File Explorer automatically logs and displays recently accessed files in the Quick Access view to speed up file navigation. If you prefer to keep your activity private or streamline your Explorer interface, this feature can be permanently turned off using the Windows Registry Editor. This guide walks you through the exact steps required to locate the necessary registry entries and modify them to disable recent items in File Explorer.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit into the field and press Enter (or click OK).
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative permissions.

Step 2: Navigate to the Explorer Registry Key

Use the left sidebar or paste the following path directly into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window, then press Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Step 3: Modify the ShowRecent Value

  1. With the Explorer key selected on the left, check the right pane for a value named ShowRecent.
  2. If ShowRecent does not exist:
    • Right-click an empty space in the right pane.
    • Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the new value ShowRecent and press Enter.
  3. Double-click the ShowRecent value.
  4. Set the Value data field to 0.
  5. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal, then click OK.

(Optional) If you also want to stop Windows from displaying frequently used folders in Quick Access, locate or create a DWORD (32-bit) value named ShowFrequent in the same key and set its value to 0.

Step 4: Restart Windows Explorer

To apply the changes immediately without restarting your computer:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. In the Processes tab, locate Windows Explorer.
  3. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.

Once File Explorer restarts, recent files will no longer appear in the Quick Access view. To revert this change in the future, navigate back to the same registry key and change the ShowRecent value data back to 1.