How to Clear Recent Files on Windows 10
Are you looking to keep your Windows 10 computer clean and organized? One of the most common ways to achieve this is by clearing recent files. Recent files are those documents, applications, and other items that you have accessed or used recently. While this feature can be convenient, it can also clutter your system and slow down performance. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to clear recent files on Windows 10.
Why Clear Recent Files?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand why it’s important to clear recent files. As mentioned earlier, recent files can take up unnecessary space on your computer and slow down its performance. Moreover, keeping track of old files can be overwhelming and make it difficult to find the documents or applications you need. By clearing recent files, you can free up space, improve system performance, and have a more organized computer.
Steps to Clear Recent Files on Windows 10
Now that you know the importance of clearing recent files, let’s proceed with the steps:
1.
Open the Start Menu
First, click on the Start button located at the bottom left corner of your screen. This will open the Start Menu.
2.
Access the Settings
In the Start Menu, click on the gear icon to open the Settings app.
3.
Go to Privacy
In the Settings app, click on “Privacy” from the left-hand menu.
4.
Select “History”
Under the “Privacy” section, click on “History” to expand the menu.
5.
Clear Recent Files
In the “History” section, you will find a list of categories, such as “File Explorer,” “Microsoft Edge,” and “Windows Store.” To clear recent files, click on the category you want to clear. For example, to clear recent files from File Explorer, click on “File Explorer.”
6.
Toggle Off the History Setting
After selecting the category, you will see a toggle button labeled “Clear history.” Click on this button to turn off the history setting for the selected category. This will clear the recent files associated with that category.
7.
Repeat for Other Categories
If you want to clear recent files from other categories, repeat steps 5 and 6 for each category.
8.
Restart Your Computer
After clearing the recent files, it’s a good idea to restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps, you can easily clear recent files on Windows 10 and keep your computer clean and organized. Regularly clearing recent files will help improve your system’s performance and make it easier to find the files and applications you need.
