WINDOW 11

How to Clear Recommended History in Windows 11

7 SOLUTIONS
OCTOBER 28, 2024

If your Windows 11 Start menu feels cluttered, this guide shows 7 easy ways to clear your Recommended history. You will find quick solutions here, from turning off recent items to removing specific files and using advanced tools like PowerShell or the Registry Editor. Whether you want a simple cleanup or a full reset, these steps will help you manage the Recommended section effectively.

Deepak Yadav
Deepak Yadav

Expert, Head of Windows Circle

No data loss

Clearing your Start menu history only removes shortcuts. The actual files and apps remain untouched.

Administrator access

Some methods, like Group Policy Editor or Registry changes, require administrator privileges.

Protect your essentials

If you're clearing recommendations, back up or pin important items to prevent accidental deletion.

Clear Recent Items in the Start Menu

4 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

1/7

METHOD
Method 1
Overview

Clearing recent items from the Start menu can help maintain privacy and ensure your system runs smoothly.

Method 1 of 7
Next Method

Open Settings

Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.

Method 1 of 7
Step 1 of 4

Navigate to Personalization

Select Personalization from the left sidebar.

Method 1 of 7
Step 2 of 4

Access Start Settings

Scroll down and click on Start.

Method 1 of 7
Step 3 of 4

Turn Off Recent Items

Find the option that says Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer and toggle it off.

Remember: To clear your history but keep the Recommended feature, toggle it off, restart your system, then toggle it back on.

Method 1 of 7
Step 4 of 4

Remove Individual Items from Recommended

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

2/7

METHOD
Method 2
Overview

This method allows you to selectively remove specific items from the Recommended list without disabling the entire feature.

Method 2 of 7
Next Method

Open the Start Menu

Press the Win key or click on the Start button.

Method 2 of 7
Step 1 of 3

Right-click on the Item

Find the file, app, or folder in the Recommended section that you want to remove.

Method 2 of 7
Step 2 of 3

Choose “Remove from List”

Right-click the item and select Remove from List.

Warning: This is ideal for users who don’t want to clear everything but prefer removing sensitive or unnecessary items from the Recommended list.

Method 2 of 7
Step 3 of 3

Clear File Explorer History

4 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

3/7

METHOD
Method 3
Overview

This method helps in clearing recent file and folder history from File Explorer, impacting recommendations in the Start menu’s Quick Access section.

Method 3 of 7
Next Method

Open File Explorer

Press Win + E to open File Explorer.

Method 3 of 7
Step 1 of 4

Access Folder Options

Click on the three-dot menu (…) in the toolbar and select Options.

Method 3 of 7
Step 2 of 4

Clear File Explorer History

In the General tab under the Privacy section, click Clear to remove the history of recently used files and folders.

Method 3 of 7
Step 3 of 4

Restart File Explorer

After clearing, close and reopen File Explorer to apply the changes.

Warning: This method not only clears the Quick Access items in the Start menu but also declutters File Explorer, providing a clean interface.

Method 3 of 7
Step 4 of 4

Using Group Policy Editor (Pro Users)

4 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

4/7

METHOD
Method 4
Overview

This method leverages Group Policy Editor to control the Start menu history for Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise users.

Method 4 of 7
Next Method

Open Group Policy Editor

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Method 4 of 7
Step 1 of 4

Navigate to Start Menu Settings

Head over to User Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, and click on Start Menu and Taskbar.

Method 4 of 7
Step 2 of 4

Disable Recent Items

Find the policy titled Do not keep a history of recently opened documents, double-click it, and set the policy to Enabled.

Method 4 of 7
Step 3 of 4

Apply Changes and Restart

Click Apply and then OK. Restart your system for the changes to take effect.

Warning: Group Policy is a great option for users who want to permanently disable recent history tracking, especially in corporate environments.

Method 4 of 7
Step 4 of 4

Clear Windows Search History

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

5/7

METHOD
Method 5
Overview

This method clears the history of queries made through Windows Search for better privacy and cleaner suggestions.

Method 5 of 7
Next Method

Open Settings

Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.

Method 5 of 7
Step 1 of 3

Navigate to Privacy & Security

From the left sidebar, select Privacy & Security.

Click on "Activity History" from the options on the right-hand side, under Privacy & Security.

Method 5 of 7
Step 2 of 3

Clear Search History

Toggle off the option Store my activity history on this device to stop your system from saving activity data.

To remove the existing activity history, click on the Clear history button under Clear activity history for this account.

Warning: Explore additional options and information through the Privacy resources section if needed.

Method 5 of 7
Step 3 of 3

Use Registry Editor for Deep Cleaning (Advanced Users)

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

6/7

METHOD
Method 6
Overview

This method lets advanced users clear deeper recommendation tracking by deleting registry entries.

Method 6 of 7
Next Method

Open Registry Editor

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Method 6 of 7
Step 1 of 3

Navigate to RecentDocs Key

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs.

Method 6 of 7
Step 2 of 3

Delete RecentDocs Folder

Right-click the RecentDocs folder and select Delete. This removes all records of recently opened files.

Caution: Always back up the registry by going to File > Export before making any changes. This provides a safety net to restore the previous state if necessary.

Method 6 of 7
Step 3 of 3

Use PowerShell to Reset (Advanced Users)

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

7/7

METHOD
Method 7
Overview

This method uses PowerShell to clear the recommendation system and reset the app database for a fresh start.

Method 7 of 7

Open PowerShell as Administrator

Right-click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin), or search for PowerShell in the Start menu search bar.

Method 7 of 7
Step 1 of 3

Run the Command

Use the following command to reset the recommendation system: powershellGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Method 7 of 7
Step 2 of 3

Restart Explorer

After running the command, restart Windows Explorer or restart your system to apply the changes.

Note: This method can also resolve glitches in the recommendation system, giving you a fresh start if items aren’t updating properly.

Method 7 of 7
Step 3 of 3

Additional Tips

Image

Check Cloud Sync Settings: If you clear history on one device, it might sync and affect others. Be sure to adjust your settings, especially if you use multiple devices.

Pin Key Apps or Files: For quick access, pin your most-used apps or files to the Start menu or Taskbar. This way, you won’t have to search for them repeatedly.

Automate with Task Scheduler: Use Task Scheduler to set up regular history-clearing tasks, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.

Don’t Forget Temporary Files: Clearing out temporary files and junk can improve system performance, even if they aren’t tied to the Recommended section.

Methods (7)

Clear Recent Items ...
4 Steps
Remove Individual I...
3 Steps
Clear File Explore...
4 Steps
Using Group Policy ...
4 Steps
Clear Windows Searc...
3 Steps
Use Registry Editor...
3 Steps
Use PowerShell to R...
3 Steps

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