Windows
Where Is the Windows Recent Files Folder?
Windows Recent folder with .lnk shortcuts to recently used files, backing Jump Lists and quick access.
Last updated
Windows tracks recently opened files as shortcuts in the Recent folder under AppData. Jump Lists and timeline features consume these links.
Plain .lnk files, plain folder. Deleting them clears history without touching the actual documents.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
Windows
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Holds .lnk shortcuts to recent files. Hidden by default; paste the path to browse. Clearing here feeds Jump List and recent-docs cleanup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear recent file history?
Delete .lnk files in the Recent folder (or clear via Settings). Jump Lists reference the same targets and may need separate clearing through taskbar settings.
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