How to clear Recents on Mac (Quick guide)

This article explores how to manage the "Recents" folder and recently opened items on a Mac, focusing on privacy concerns. It clarifies that "Recents" isn't a physical folder but a Spotlight-generated list. The article details several methods for controlling its contents, emphasizing the difference between hiding the Recents list and deleting the underlying files.

The article offers a table summarizing quick methods:

Method	Steps
Hide Recents in Finder	Finder > Right-click Recents > Remove from sidebar
Manually Delete from Recents	Finder > Recents > Select files > Right-click > Move to Trash
Clear Recent Items (Apple Menu)	Apple menu > Recent Items > Clear menu
CleanMyMac	Install CleanMyMac > Protection > Scan > Manage Privacy Items > Recent Item Lists > Remove
Exclude from Spotlight	System Settings > Spotlight > Search Privacy > Add Macintosh HD
Rename Files (Terminal)	Terminal > cd to file location > mv command to rename (add leading ".")
Encrypted Drive	Disk Utility > New Image > Blank Image > Encrypt (AES-128/256)

The article then elaborates on each method, including tips and cautions, such as the risk of accidentally deleting original files when clearing the Recents list directly. It highlights the use of CleanMyMac for a one-click solution and the Terminal for selectively hiding files from Spotlight. Creating an encrypted drive is presented as a more permanent solution for sensitive files.

The article concludes with a FAQ section addressing common questions about reappearing items, clearing recent documents in specific apps, and the lack of keyboard shortcuts for deleting recent items. It also promotes several apps (Disk Drill, CleanMyMac, Path Finder, ClearVPN) for file recovery, system cleanup, file management, and secure online activity.

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