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How to Clear Recents Folder on Mac [5 Effective Methods]

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Last updated: November 24, 2024

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TL;DR

To clear Recents folder on Mac, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Settings.
  2. Go to Siri & Spotlight.
  3. Scroll down and click Spotlight Privacy.
  4. Click the + button at the bottom left of the Privacy window.
  5. Select your startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD) and click Choose.

Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.

Sensitive files showing in the Recents folder can be frustrating. I faced the same issue and found simple ways to clear and manage it. In this post, I’ll share what worked for me, so you can keep your Mac organized and your files out of sight.

Turning off Spotlight indexing for your startup disk will prevent Spotlight from searching for files on that disk. This can impact the speed and efficiency of file searches on your Mac. If you need to use Spotlight search frequently, keep indexing enabled.

How to Clear Recents Folder on Mac

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Here is the detailed step-by-step guide to clear Recents folder on Mac:

1. Turn off Spotlight Indexing

To turn off Spotlight indexing for your startup disk on macOS, you can follow these steps:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Settings.
click the apple icon and select system settings
  1. In the System Settings window, click Siri & Spotlight.
click siri and spotlight in system settings
  1. Scroll down the right pane and click the Spotlight Privacy button.
click the spotlight privacy button
  1. Click the + button at the bottom left of the Privacy window.
click the plus button in privacy window
  1. A new window will appear, showing your file system. Select your startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD or similar) from the list, and click Choose.
select your drive and click choose
  1. Once you have added your startup disk to the Privacy list, Spotlight will stop indexing its contents.

2. Hide Files from Appearing in Recents Folder

Instead of excluding the entire disk, you can create a specific folder and exclude it to appear in the Recents folder. To achieve this, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Settings.
click the apple icon and select system settings
  1. In the System Settings window, click Siri & Spotlight.
click siri and spotlight in system settings
  1. Scroll down the right pane and click the Spotlight Privacy button.
click the spotlight privacy button
  1. Click the + button at the bottom left of the Privacy window.
click the plus button in privacy window
  1. Navigate to the destination where your folder is present. Select the folder and click Choose.
select a folder to hide and click choose
  1. By placing files in this designated folder, they will remain hidden from Spotlight Search and the Recents folder in the Finder.

This method only removes the files you moved (not copied) to the special folder, and it does not clear the entire Recents folder.

3. Rename Files Using Terminal

To rename files using the Terminal and hide them from the Recents folder to Hide Them from Recents Folder on macOS, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the Terminal application.
launch terminal from utilities
  1. Navigate to the directory where the files you want to rename are located. Use the cd command followed by the path to the directory. For example, if your files are in the Documents folder, you can use the following command:
cd Documents/Excluded\ Files

Use a backslash before any spaces in your folder names.

  1. Once you’re in the desired directory, use the mv command to rename the files and add a dot to their names. The syntax for the mv command is as follows:
mv my\ hidden\ file.png .my\ hidden\ file.png

Replace my\ hidden\ file with the current name of the file you want to hide.

  1. Press Enter to execute the command. The file will be renamed accordingly.

4. Move Your Files to an Encrypted Drive


Move files to an Encrypted Drive to keep them secure and hidden from Spotlight indexing. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the Applications directory and locate the Utilities folder.
click applications in finder and open utilities
  1. Launch the Disk Utility application from the Utilities folder.
launch disk utility from utilities
  1. Once you have opened Disk Utility, click the File option in the menu bar. Click New Image and select Blank Image…
click file select new image and choose blank image
  1. Fill in all the necessary information for the new image and save it.
  2. Make sure to set the Image Format option to read/write disk images.
click save in disk utility

You can use third-party apps like MacKeeper to easily clear recent items on your Mac. These tools help you remove unnecessary files quickly, keeping your system organized and efficient.

5. Remove the Recents Folder from Finder

Follow these steps to remove the Recents folder from your Finder on your Mac:

  1. Open the Finder app on your Mac and navigate to the Recents folder.
open the finder app on your mac and navigate to the recents tab
  1. Hold the Control ⌃ key and click the Recents folder.
macbook pro control key
  1. From the menu that appears, select Remove from Sidebar.
from the menu that appears select remove from sidebar

Wrap Up

Clearing recent items on Mac can protect your privacy and keep your system running smoothly. Here are some more tips to keep in mind for future use:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary to clear cache and cookies on Mac?

Yes, it is necessary to clear cache and cookies on Mac, especially for your web browser. When you browse the internet, your browser stores temporary data to load pages faster and remember your login information. However, this can accumulate over time and slow down your browser’s performance.

How often should you clear cache and cookies on Mac?

The frequency of clearing cache and cookies on your Mac depends on your usage and privacy concerns. If you frequently browse the internet and visit many websites, clear your cache and cookies every few weeks or once a month. However, if you visit a limited number of sites and don’t have privacy concerns, you may not need to clear them as often.

Can I recover an accidentally deleted item from Recents?

No, you can not recover an accidentally deleted item from Recents on your Mac. However, if you remember its name, you can still recover that item using the search option. You can do this by navigating to the Finder or Applications folder and locating the file or application there.

Why is it important to clear Recents on a Mac?

Clearing recent items on a Mac is important for safeguarding your privacy and freeing up storage space. With this practice, you can prevent others from seeing what you’ve been working on and avoid cluttering your system with unnecessary files.

Does clearing Recents on my Mac improve its performance?

Clearing Recents on your Mac can improve its performance by freeing up storage space, especially if your Mac has limited storage capacity. It can also improve privacy by removing the list of recently accessed files and applications from your device.

Ojash

Author

Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

Hashir Ibrahim

Reviewer

Hello! I'm Hashir, a seasoned tech journalist with a unique blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience. With a bachelor's in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and over a decade in the industry, I've built a reputation for demystifying complex Apple hardware. My work has been featured in top tech outlets like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac.

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