Windows 10: Clear File Explorer History in Windows 10

How to: Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

How to Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

Clearing File Explorer history deletes the information Windows saved about the files and folders you use as well as what you've typed in the address bar.

This tutorial will show you how to clear the history of File Explorer and Run dialog box for your account in Windows 10.

Contents

• Option One: Clear File Explorer and history in File Explorer Options
• Option Two: Clear File Explorer history using a BAT file

EXAMPLE: File Explorer history

(Quick access - unpinned Frequent folders and Recent files)




(File Explorer File menu - unpinned Frequent places)




(File Explorer jump list)




(File Explorer address bar typed history)




(Run dialog box typed history)









OPTION ONE [/i] Clear File Explorer and Run dialog box history in File Explorer Options
1 Open File Explorer Options.

2 In the General tab, click/tap on the Clear button for Clear File Explorer history under Privacy. (see screenshot below)



3 You can now close File Explorer Options if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] Clear File Explorer and Run dialog box history using a BAT file
The downloadable .bat file in this option contains the commands below that will delete these items to clear File Explorer history for your account.

Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*
Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*
Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations\*
REG Delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /VA /F
REG Delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths /VA /F


1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.
Clear_File_Explorer_History.bat

Download
2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3 Unblock the .bat file.

4 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10
• How to Reset and Clear Recent Items and Frequent Places in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off 'Recent Items' and 'Frequent Places' in Windows 10
• How to Delete your Run Dialog Auto Suggest History in Windows
• How to Add or Remove Most Used apps on Start Menu in Windows 10
• Turn On or Off Inline AutoComplete in File Explorer and Run Dialog in Windows 10

:)

 

File history says it's working but the total space stays at zero

Hi Cathode,

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to clear the File Explorer history and check the status of this issue.

To clear the File explorer history follow the steps

Steps to clear File Explorer history in Windows 10:

Step 1: Open File Explorer Options.

Step 2: In the General settings, find Clear File Explorer history on the bottom and click the
Clear button.

Refer the link below

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help

 

Deleting files from File History in Windows 10

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

Please clarify which File History are you referring to.

1. The file explorer file history or the backup feature file history?

2. Are you referring to file explorer file history?

If you are referring to File Explorer File History then follow the steps below to clear File History.

1. Type Windows key + E.

2. Tap or click on File.

3. Go to Options.

4. In General tab under privacy click on clear to clear file history.

Hope this information helps.

Thanks

 

Hello David, *Smile

That's correct. Both options perform the same action and affect the same thing. I like to try and provide different ways to do the same thing to help folks do it the way that's easiest for them.

I believe the one's for Office will be different. The tutorial is basically just for explorer items.

 

OK thanks for the quick response!

I guess that will be a topic for another day! *Smile