How do I clear recents on Mac? This is a common question among Mac users who want to manage their recent apps and documents efficiently. Keeping your recent items organized can help you find what you need faster and maintain a clutter-free workspace. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to clear recents on your Mac, ensuring a more streamlined and productive experience.
In the latest versions of macOS, the recent items feature has been replaced by the recent items menu. This menu displays a list of recently opened documents and apps, making it easier to access them quickly. However, if you find this feature cluttering your menu or if you simply want to keep your system clean, clearing recents on Mac is a straightforward process.
Here’s how you can clear recents on Mac:
1. Open the Recent Items Menu:
– To access the recent items menu, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select “Recent Items.”
2. Clear Recent Items:
– Once the recent items menu is open, you can clear all recent items by clicking on the “Clear All” button at the bottom of the menu.
3. Clear Recent Apps:
– If you want to clear recent apps specifically, you can do so by opening the “Finder” and navigating to the “Applications” folder. Right-click on the app you want to remove from the recent apps list and select “Move to Trash.”
4. Clear Recent Documents:
– To clear recent documents, open the app whose documents you want to remove from the recent items list. Click on “File” in the menu bar, then select “Recent Documents.” From there, you can right-click on a document and choose “Delete” or select multiple documents and click “Delete.”
5. Use Keyboard Shortcuts:
– For a quicker way to clear recents, you can use keyboard shortcuts. To clear all recent items, press `Command + Option + Y` while the recent items menu is open. To clear recent apps, press `Command + Option + X` while the Applications folder is open.
6. Customize Recent Items:
– If you want to manage which items appear in the recent items menu, you can customize the list. Open the “System Preferences” by clicking on the Apple logo and selecting “System Preferences.” Go to “Dock & Menu Bar” and adjust the settings for recent items.
By following these steps, you can easily clear recents on your Mac and maintain a clean and organized workspace. Keeping your recent items menu tidy can help you find what you need more efficiently and contribute to a more pleasant user experience.
