Windows 10’s File Explorer retains a history of your recent search queries. This feature can be helpful for quickly repeating searches, but it can also present privacy concerns, especially if you share your device with others. Whether you want to clear a single entry or delete your entire search history, Windows offers several ways to manage search history through File Explorer, the Registry, and Group Policy.
Why You Might Want to Clear Search History
- Privacy: Prevent other users from seeing what you’ve searched for on your computer.
- Organization: Keeping the search box clear can help avoid confusion when looking for new items.
- Performance: In rare cases, a long search history might slow down search functionality.
Removing Search History via File Explorer
Here are the steps to clear your search history using File Explorer’s built-in options:
Step 01: Open File Explorer
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, or click on the folder icon in the taskbar.
Step 02: Perform a Search
- In the search box (top-right corner), type anything to enable the Search tab in the ribbon at the top.
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Step 03: Open the Search Tab
- Click on the Search tab, which now appears in the File Explorer ribbon.
Step 04: Access Recent Searches
- In the Search tab, locate and click on the Recent Searches option.
Step 05: Clear Search History
- From the drop-down menu, select Clear search history. This will delete all recent search queries.
What Happens After Clearing the History
Once the steps are complete, all of your past search queries will no longer be shown in the drop-down list when you click on the search bar again. Keep in mind that this process clears only the history stored in File Explorer and does not affect other areas of your computer, such as web browsers.
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Additional Options: Disabling Search History
If you want to go further and completely disable search history in File Explorer, there are more advanced options using the Registry Editor or Group Policy. These methods prevent Windows from keeping a search history altogether, ensuring complete privacy and preventing future queries from being logged.
By following these steps, you can easily clear or disable your search history, ensuring better privacy and a clutter-free experience in Windows 10.
