When you open the Start menu in Windows 11, the recently accessed files and folders will appear under the Recommended category. This means that whenever you open the Start menu, these items will be visible. However, if you prefer not to display them, you can follow this guide to learn how to conceal or eliminate recent files and folders within the Start menu of Windows 11.

The initial Windows 11 Insider preview build 22000.51 has been available for some time now, and many Windows Insiders have already updated their systems to Windows 11 to explore and utilize its new features and enhancements.

A significant alteration in Windows 11 is the redesign of the Start menu. Microsoft has centralized the Start menu and simplified its content. Unlike previous versions, you won't immediately see a list of applications in the Start menu. Instead, you'll notice the files and folders you've accessed recently listed under the Recommended section. This provides quick access to those files and folders if you wish to use them again. While this adjustment is beneficial, not all users appreciate it. Some may not want others to view what they’ve recently opened. Fortunately, you can choose to delete or hide recent files and folders in the Start menu of Windows 11.

This article will provide a straightforward guide on how to hide or remove recent files and folders in the Start menu of Windows 11.

Steps to Hide Recent Files and Folders in Windows 11’s Start Menu

1. Click Start and locate the Settings icon in the Start menu. Click it to open. Alternatively, you can right-click Start and select Settings.

2. In Settings, navigate to Personalization from the left-hand menu. Another method to reach Personalization is by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Personalise.

3. Locate Start under Personalization and click to open it.

4. Find the Show recently opened items in Start, Jump lists, and File Explorer option and switch off the toggle beside it.

5. Close Settings.

Following these steps, when you click Start, the list of recent files and folders under the Recommended section will no longer be visible. As you can see, disabling recent files and folders in Windows 11 is quite straightforward.

How to Reveal Recent Files and Folders in Windows 11’s Start Menu?

If you decide to reverse the changes and make recent files and folders visible again in the Start menu of Windows 11, simply repeat the aforementioned steps from 1 to 3, but activate the toggle next to Show recently opened items in Start, Jump lists, and File Explorer in step 4.

Steps to Delete Specific Files and Folders from the Recommended Section in Windows 11

You can also selectively remove certain files and folders from the Recommended section in the Start menu. This process is quite simple:

1. Click Start to open the Start menu.
2. Right-click the file you wish to remove from the Recommended section and select Remove from list.

These two steps will effectively remove the selected item from the Recommended section in the Start menu.

Tip: Recent Files and Folders in Windows 10

Windows 10 also displays files and folders you’ve recently opened. However, these aren't visible when you click Start. They become visible when you select an app from the app list in Start. Additionally, you can view your recent files and folders by opening File Explorer.

Similar to Windows 11, you can hide recent files and folders in Windows 10. Here's a guide: Methods to Clear Recent Files & Disable Recent Items in Windows 10.

Conclusion

How to hide recent files and folders in Windows 11’s Start menu? After reading this post, you should now understand the solution. If you encounter any other issues while using Windows 11, feel free to leave a comment below.

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