Windows 10 Don’t Show Recent Files: Fix It and Recover the Files!

About Windows 10 recent files

For better work efficiency, users can quickly access their recently used or edited files through the "Recent Files" feature in Windows 10. This feature provides a shortcut, making it easy to find frequently accessed files in seconds. Over time, it has proven to be a helpful and well-designed tool that tracks users' actions.

Where can you find the Recent Files list in Windows 10/11?

Where are recent files stored in Windows 10? Generally, they are stored in 2 places:

▶ Taskbar: In Windows 10, you can view all recently opened files and folders by right-clicking on program icons in the Taskbar or Start menu. This list, called the "jump list," displays recent files associated with each program. In Windows 11, with the 22H2 update, you'll see even more recent files and programs in the jump list.

▶ File Explorer: Windows 10 introduced the Quick Access view in File Explorer, which shows frequently used folders and recently accessed files. You can find up to ten folders and twenty files displayed in this section.

What's in the Recent Files list?

Not all recently opened files will appear in the Recent Files list, as Windows uses a specific algorithm to determine what shows up. Files are displayed in chronological order, with the most recent at the top. If you open a file that's already on the list, it will move back to the top. Items you pin will stay in place, even if new files are added. When the list reaches the maximum number of pinned items, no new ones will appear until you unpin something.

However, File Explorer, a core feature of Windows PCs, sometimes experiences issues. For example, some users have reported that the File Explorer sidebar is missing, while others noticed that the Recent Files option doesn’t appear in Windows 10, causing inconvenience.

How to fix "Windows 10 don't show recent files" issue?

Here are some fixes for recent files in Windows 10 not showing. If you encounter data loss, you can also learn how to recover recently deleted files in this article.

Fix 1. Change Folder Options

If you mistakenly turned off the Recent files partm, you can change folder options to fix Windows 10 stop showing recent files problem.

Tip:

If you meet the Windows Explorer Quick Access missing issue, this article will also be helpful.

Step 1. Open This PC or File Explorer > right-click on Quick Access > Options.

Step 2. General > Privacy > check Show recently used files in Quick access > click Apply.

Now, the Recent files part will come back to your Quick Access window.

Fix 2. Turn on Show recently opened items in Quick Access

If the Jump Lists aren't working right, you may also have problems with recent items not showing up in Windows 10. To fix this, you could check the settings for Jump Lists and make everything right again.

Step 1. Click the Start menu > Settings > Personalization.

Step 2. Click Start > switch on the option Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access.

Fix 3. Enable Recent Folders

If these fixes don't help with the Windows 10 stop showing recent files problem, you might as well look for another way to fix it. Instead of the Recent files section, we could also use the Recent folders part. It shows you the folders you've used lately.

Notes:✎...

If you find the Recent folder missing, you could also follow this solution to fix it.

Step 1. Input shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99} in the File Explorer directory box.

Or, you can press Win + R to start the run program > input shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99} > OK.

Step 2. All folders you have opened recently will be shown > click Pin to Quick access on the toolbar.

Later you can visit the Recent folder under File Explorer Quick Access.

Fix 4. Restore defaults

Restoring defaults is probably the last fix to solve the Windows 10 don't show recent files. It works like a restart or a factory reset, which can eliminate most of the problems. For example, some users will restart to repair hard drive errors.

To fix recent files in Windows 10 not showing, please go to Folder Options > View > Restore Defaults. Then check if the Recent files are shown properly.

Recover recently deleted files in Windows 10

As soon as you added the Recent files section back to Quick Access, it was easy to get to the files you used. But some users say that when they try to open a file in Recent Files, they get a message that says, "How do you want to open this file?" This means the file was lost or deleted. Or sometimes, when the you want to open the recent files, you just find you have deleted it before. 

Then how do you recover files that are lost or deleted? You should pick AOMEI FastRecovery. It is a sophisticated and cutting-edge app for recovering lost info on Windows. It made it easy to get back info that you had deleted.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Summary

That's all about how to fix Windows 10 don't show recent files. With this comprehensive guide, you can fix Windows 10 stop showing recent files, or recent files in Windows 10 not showing issue. Once you find you suffer data loss, please run AOMEI FastRecovery to recover the lost files as soon as possible as the data may be overwritten with time going by.