Hello, Mac users! Have you noticed your recent items list keeps getting longer and longer? It can be quite overwhelming to sort through all of those recent files and folders, but fear not! In this article, we will be teaching you how to clear your recents on your Mac in just a few simple steps.
Steps:
Step 1: Open Finder Preferences
To begin, open a new Finder window and click on “Finder” in the top left corner. From there, scroll down to “Preferences” and click on it.
Step 2: Select the Sidebar Tab
Once in the Preferences window, select the “Sidebar” tab located at the top.
Step 3: Uncheck Recents
Scroll down the list until you find the “Recents” option. Uncheck the box next to it to remove it from your Sidebar.
Step 4: Open System Preferences
Now, open a new Finder window and click on “Applications” in the left Sidebar. Scroll down to “Utilities” and click on it, then select “System Preferences.”
Step 5: Click on General
In the System Preferences window, click on “General” which is usually the first option.
Step 6: Change Recent Items
Under “Recent items,” you can choose to either keep recent items for “None,” “10,” “15,” “20,” “30,” or “50” items. Choose the option that works best for you.
Step 7: Clear Recents in Applications
To remove recent items in specific applications, open that application and click on “File” in the top Menu. From there, select “Open Recent” and choose “Clear Menu.”
Step 8: Clear Docments in Preview
For those using Preview, click on “Preview” in the top Menu and select “Preferences.” Go to the “PDF” tab and choose “Clear History.”
Step 9: Clear Recents in Word
In Microsoft Word, click on “File” in the top Menu and select “Open Recent.” At the bottom of the list, click on “Clear Recent.”
Step 10: Clear Recents in Excel
Similarly in Excel, click on “File” in the top Menu and select “Open Recent.” Then, click on “Clear Recent.”
Step 11: Clear Recents in PowerPoint
Lastly, in PowerPoint, click on “File” in the top Menu and select “Open Recent.” At the bottom of the list, click on “Clear Recent.”
Step 12: Restart Your Mac
Once you’ve cleared your recents, it’s always a good idea to restart your Mac. This helps to ensure all changes have been properly applied.
Explanation:
Clearing your recents can help declutter and organize your Mac, giving you a fresh start. By following these steps, you’ll be able to clear your recents in no time. It’s important to note that some applications may have their own individual steps in clearing recent items, so always check their respective preferences.
Tips and Tricks:
1. Keep in mind that clearing your recents also means you won’t be able to quickly access recent files and folders.
2. Consider setting a reminder to clear your recents every month or so
3. Utilize folders and tags to easily categorize your files and folders
4. Use the search function in Finder to quickly find specific items on your Mac
5. For frequently used applications, consider saving them to your Dock for easy access
6. Keep your Desktop organized for an easier overall navigation
7. Consider a clean-up app like CleanMyMacX to help automate the process of clearing out and organizing your Mac
8. Remember to backup your important files to an external hard drive or cloud service
9. Set up a folder for files that require your immediate attention or are of high priority
10. Regularly review your downloads folder and move any important files to their appropriate location
In conclusion, clearing your recents is a simple yet effective way to declutter and organize your Mac. With these easy steps and helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to a more efficient and productive experience on your Mac. Happy organizing!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Clearing Recents on Mac
Advantages
1. Free up space – Clearing your recent files can help free up valuable storage space on your Mac. This is particularly useful if you are running low on storage or need more space for new files.
2. Increased privacy – By clearing your recent files, you reduce the risk of someone else accessing sensitive information about what you have been working on.
3. Improved performance – Clearing your recent files can help improve the performance of your Mac, particularly if you regularly work with large files or applications.
4. Streamlined workflow – Clearing your recent files can help you stay more organized and focused, as you only see the files you need and not a cluttered list of recent items.
5. Reduced clutter – Clearing your recent files can help reduce visual clutter on your Mac and make it easier to find the files you need.
6. Better security – Clearing your recent files can help reduce the risk of a cyber attack or malware infection by removing traces of your recent activity.
7. Reset settings – Clearing your recent files can help reset settings for applications, which can help resolve issues with certain programs.
8. More control – Clearing your recent files gives you more control over what information is stored on your Mac, which can help protect your privacy.
9. Cleaner desktop – Clearing your recent files can help keep your desktop cleaner and more organized, which can improve your productivity.
10. Keep track of important files – Clearing your recent files can help you keep track of the files you need, making it easier to find them when you need them.
Disadvantages
1. Loss of quick access – Clearing your recent files means you will lose quick access to recent documents, applications and other files.
2. Loss of context – Clearing your recent files means you will lose the contextual information that recent files provide, such as which files you were working on recently.
3. Potential for data loss – Clearing your recent files can result in data loss if you accidentally clear important files that you will need in the future.
4. Time-consuming – Clearing your recent files can be time-consuming, especially if you need to go through a lot of files or applications.
5. Inconvenient – Clearing your recent files can be inconvenient, as you will need to take the time to re-open files or applications that you need to access again.
6. Risk of accidentally clearing important files – Clearing your recent files can pose a risk if you accidentally clear files that you need to keep for reference or future work.
7. Reduced functionality – Clearing your recent files can also reduce the functionality of certain applications that rely on recent file data to function properly.
8. Lack of history – Clearing your recent files means you lose the history of what you have been working on, which can be particularly frustrating if you need to reference past work.
9. Limited scope – Clearing your recent files only clears recent files and does not address other types of temporary or cached data that may also be taking up space on your Mac.
10. Security risks – Clearing your recent files does not necessarily guarantee improved security, as other types of sensitive information may still be stored on your Mac. For example, cookies, browsing history, and other cached data may still be accessible to hackers or other unauthorized users.
FAQ
Q: What are recents on Mac?
A: Recents on Mac are the files, folders, and applications that you have recently accessed or used on your computer. These can be found in the Recents folder in Finder.
Q: Can I clear recents on Mac?
A: Yes, you can clear recents on Mac to remove the list of files, folders, and applications that you have recently accessed on your computer. This can help protect your privacy and keep your computer organized.
Q: Why should I clear recents on Mac?
A: You should clear recents on Mac to protect your privacy and keep your computer organized. If you share your computer with others or use it in public places, you may not want others to see the files, folders, and applications that you have recently accessed.
Q: How do I clear recents on Mac?
A: To clear recents on Mac, go to the Apple menu and select “Recent Items”. Then, click on “Clear Menu” to remove the list of recently accessed files, folders, and applications.
Q: Can I turn off recents on Mac?
A: Yes, you can turn off recents on Mac if you don’t want your computer to keep track of the files, folders, and applications that you have recently accessed. To do this, go to the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”. Then, click on “General” and uncheck the box next to “Recent items”.
Q: Will clearing recents on Mac delete my files?
A: No, clearing recents on Mac will not delete your files. It will only remove the list of files, folders, and applications that you have recently accessed from the Recents folder in Finder.
Q: Can I clear recents on Mac automatically?
A: Yes, you can clear recents on Mac automatically by using a third-party app or script that is designed to do this. However, you should be careful when using these tools, as they may delete files or cause other issues on your computer.
Q: How often should I clear recents on Mac?
A: The frequency with which you should clear recents on Mac depends on your personal preferences and habits. If you use your computer often and share it with others, you may want to clear recents on a daily or weekly basis. If you use your computer mostly for personal work and don’t share it with others, you may not need to clear recents as frequently.
Q: Will clearing recents on Mac speed up my computer?
A: Clearing recents on Mac may improve the speed and performance of your computer, as it can free up some system resources that are used to keep track of your recently accessed files, folders, and applications.
Q: Can I access cleared recents on Mac?
A: No, you cannot access cleared recents on Mac. Once you clear recents, the list of recently accessed files, folders, and applications is permanently deleted from your computer.
Q: Does clearing recents on Mac affect my bookmarks or history?
A: No, clearing recents on Mac does not affect your bookmarks or history in Safari or other web browsers. It only removes the list of recently accessed files, folders, and applications from the Recents folder in Finder.
Q: Can I clear recents for specific files or folders on Mac?
A: Yes, you can clear recents for specific files or folders on Mac by removing them from the Recents folder in Finder. To do this, right-click on the file or folder and select “Remove from Recent Items”. This will remove the file or folder from the list of recently accessed items in the Recents folder.
Q: Can I exclude certain files or folders from recents on Mac?
A: Yes, you can exclude certain files or folders from recents on Mac by adding them to the Privacy tab in System Preferences. This will prevent your computer from keeping track of the files or folders that you have recently accessed.
How to Clear Recents on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide
When it comes to keeping your Mac running smoothly, it’s important to occasionally clear out old files and data. One area that can get cluttered quickly is the “recents” list, which shows files and apps that you have recently used. While this can be a convenient feature, it can also bog down your system and lead to slower performance. Here’s how to clear recents on Mac quickly and easily.
Step 1: Open the Finder Window
The first step is to open a new Finder window. You can do this by clicking on the Finder icon in your dock, or by pressing Command-N on your keyboard.
Step 2: Click on the Recents Icon
Once you have the Finder window open, look for the “recents” icon in the sidebar. It’s usually near the top, and looks like a clock with an arrow circling around it. Click on this icon to view your recent files and apps.
Step 3: Clear Your Recent Files
Now that you’re in the recents window, it’s time to clear out any unnecessary files. You can do this in a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to simply right-click on a file or app that you want to remove, and then select “remove from recents”. This will delete the item from your list immediately.
If you have a lot of files to clear out, you can also use the “Clear Menu” option. This will remove all of your recent files at once, which can save you a lot of time. To do this, simply right-click on any file in the recents list, and then choose “clear menu”.
Step 4: Clear Your Recent Apps
In addition to files, the recents list also shows apps that you have recently used. To clear out your recent apps, simply click on the “recents” icon in your dock. This will bring up a list of all the apps you’ve recently opened. To remove an app from the list, simply right-click on it and choose “remove from recents”. If you want to clear all your recent apps at once, choose “Clear” at the bottom of the list.
Conclusion
Clearing your recents list is an easy and effective way to keep your Mac running smoothly. By removing unnecessary files and apps, you can free up space and improve performance. Plus, it’s a good habit to get into if you want to minimize clutter and stay organized. So the next time you’re feeling bogged down by a cluttered recents list, follow these simple steps to clear it out quickly and easily.
Closing
Thanks for taking the time to learn how to clear recents on Mac. By following these steps, you can keep your system running smoothly and stay organized. Remember to clear out your recents list regularly to avoid clutter and improve performance. We hope this guide has been helpful, and wish you all the best.