How to Clear Recents on Finder
Are you tired of seeing a cluttered list of recently opened files on your Mac’s Finder? If so, you’re not alone. The “Recents” feature in Finder can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you frequently open and close files. However, clearing this list is a straightforward process that can help you maintain a cleaner and more organized desktop. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps on how to clear recents on Finder.
Step 1: Open Finder Preferences
The first step to clearing the recents list is to access the Finder preferences. To do this, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “Finder” from the dropdown menu. Then, choose “Preferences” from the options that appear.
Step 2: Navigate to the General Tab
Once the Finder Preferences window opens, you’ll see several tabs at the top. Click on the “General” tab to access the settings related to the recents list.
Step 3: Uncheck the “Show Recent Items” Option
In the General tab, you’ll find a checkbox labeled “Show Recent Items.” This option is responsible for displaying the recents list in the Finder sidebar. To clear the recents list, simply uncheck this box. This will hide the list from your sidebar, effectively clearing it.
Step 4: Manually Clear the Recents List
If you want to clear the recents list immediately without changing the preferences, you can do so by manually deleting the items. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the Finder window.
2. Click on the “Recents” folder in the sidebar.
3. Select all the items in the list by clicking the first item and then pressing Command + A.
4. Press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete the selected items.
Step 5: Confirm Deletion
When you delete the items from the recents list, a confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Delete” to confirm the deletion and remove the items from your Mac.
Step 6: Re-enable the “Show Recent Items” Option (Optional)
If you decide to re-enable the recents list in the future, you can do so by following the same steps as in Step 3, but this time, check the “Show Recent Items” box to display the list again.
In conclusion, clearing the recents list on Finder is a simple process that can help you maintain a cleaner and more organized desktop. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily hide or delete the recents list to suit your preferences.
