Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer  

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer

    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer

    How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    16 Feb 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Clear File Explorer Search History in Windows 10


    The search box in File Explorer will show a list of suggestions as you type in the search box. These suggestions are the history of your past typed searches into the search box.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 18894, Microsoft started to roll out a new File Explorer search experience – now powered by Windows Search, and available to everyone starting with Windows 10 build 18945.

    This tutorial will show you how to clear the typed search history in File Explorer for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Remove Specific Previous Searches from File Explorer Search History by Click
    • Option Two: To Remove Specific Previous Searches from File Explorer Search History by Right Click
    • Option Three: To Clear All File Explorer Search History in Ribbon
    • Option Four: To Clear All File Explorer Search History using a BAT file



    EXAMPLE: Search history in File Explorer
    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_search_history-1.png Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_search_history-2.png






    OPTION ONE

    To Remove Specific Previous Searches from File Explorer Search History by Click


    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 19536.


    1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

    2 Click/tap inside the search box. (see screenshot below)

    3 Select the previous search (ex: *.jpg) that you want to delete.

    4 Click/tap on the X to the right of the previous search (ex: *.jpg) to delete it.

    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer-delete_file_explorer_search_history-1.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Remove Specific Previous Searches from File Explorer Search History by Right Click


    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 19536.


    1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

    2 Click/tap inside the search box. (see screenshot below)

    3 Right click on the previous search (ex: *.jpg) that you want to delete.

    4 Click/tap on Remove from device to delete it.

    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer-delete_file_explorer_search_history-2.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Clear All File Explorer Search History in Ribbon


    1 While you are currently performing a search in File Explorer, click/tap on the Search (Search Tools) tab.

    2 In the Search tab, click/tap on Recent searches, and click/tap on Clear search history in the drop down menu.

    If Recent searches is grayed out, then you do not have any search history to clear.



    Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer-clear_file_explorer_search_history-ribbon.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Clear All File Explorer Search History using a BAT file


    The downloadable .bat file in this option contains the command below that will delete these items to clear the File Explorer Search history for your account.

    REG Delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery /VA /F


    1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.

    Clear_Search_History_in_File_Explorer.bat

    Download

    2 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    3 Unblock the .bat file.

    4 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 30
    Windows 10
       #1

    Hi Shawn,

    You also can easily clean history from ribbon. İf yolu expand "Recent Searches" (Search tab) there is "clean history" option.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Yasak. Added as OPTION TWO. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 30
    Windows 10
       #3

    Your welcome :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    Option 1 does not work for me.
    I don't have an X behind the keyword(s).
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Pepsiminus said:
    Option 1 does not work for me.
    I don't have an X behind the keyword(s).
    Hello Pepsiminus,

    What build of Windows 10 do you currently have installed?

    If it's not a current build, you may not have it available yet.
      My Computers


  6. NMI
    Posts : 1,095
    Windows 11 Pro, Version 22H2
       #6

    The X doesn't appear on 1909 (18363.657).
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 34
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    This is just another example of how stupid Microsoft can be when implementing updates. I mean why would anyone remove a handly way to individually clear recent searched items? It makes no sense.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    Brink said:
    Hello Pepsiminus,

    What build of Windows 10 do you currently have installed?

    If it's not a current build, you may not have it available yet.
    Edition: Windows 10 Pro
    Version: 1909
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Pepsiminus said:
    Edition: Windows 10 Pro
    Version: 1909
    It will depend on build instead of version.

    Find Windows 10 Build Number
      My Computers


 

Tutorial Categories

Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:49.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums