Windows Explorer's Jumplist reads "frequent" but shows recent

When I right-click on the Windows Explorer icon pinned to my taskbar, the jumplist shows, as usual, a list of pinned locations followed by a list of "frequent" locations. But the latter is actually showing the most recent places where I opened/saved a file, regardless of how frequently I use that folder. So even if I never used a folder before, it goes to the top of the "frequent" list when I open a file there. I've recently migrated from Windows 7, where the jumplist is ordered by frequency by default (until you permanently mess it up with CCleaner, apparently) and I would like to know if it is possible to make it work like that on Windows 10 too.

Please note this has nothing to do with Quick Access and its Frequent Folders and Recent Files. Most of my searches redirected to questions about these.

Also, searching about this issue I actually found many people asking how to do the opposite i.e their jumplists are actually sorted by most frequent first and they wanted to change to most recent. Was it different in early versions of Windows 10? It's also odd that my jumplist actually reads "frequent" despite showing recent. I hope there is a way to change it.

@Edwin - after you - I was just thinking.. and looking at some reports of confusion and problems with this.. didn't want to jump in, so to speak...

Meanwhile this tutorial is relevant:
Turn On or Off Recent Items and Frequent Places in Windows 10

Frequent places is a list of folders, websites, etc... that you have opened recently. These items are displayed as "Frequent folders" in Quick access folder, "Frequent places" under File in File Explorer, and under "Frequent" and "Recent" in jump lists on the Start menu and taskbar.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off to store and display recent items and frequent places in File Explorer, Quick access, jump lists, Start menu, and taskbar for your account or specific or all users in Windows 10.

When you turn off recent items and frequent places, it will reset and clear them all except any locations you pinned to Quick access and pinned to Jump Lists.

Your recent items and frequent places are stored in the folder locations below.

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations

It seems from what I see-
Frequent Places (frequently accessed items) are shown if you open f. explorer, and click File.

The jump list for f. explorer shows things you've pinned there (as 'favourites', effectively) and Recent items.

That seems to line up with the tutorial- but I'm only looking at 1903, except that it says

and under "Frequent" and "Recent" in jump lists on the Start menu and taskbar.

There seems to have been a change quite a while back with what MS provided, looking at the internet.

It's also odd that my jumplist actually reads "frequent" despite showing recent. I hope there is a way to change it.

Mine shows Pinned and Recent as titles in the jumplist.

I've never paid much attention to these, frankly, as I have 3 3rd party ways of doing this better, and common to many more dialogues.

jki said:

I'm open to suggestions if you have any. I don't really know why I never looked up for these kinds of programs.

Here are some:
a. Listary (free is good enough): e.g. middle click an empty space in almost any f explorer or Open/save dialogue, and you get


Favourites and Recent, not frequent.

It does a whole lot more too..
Listary – File Search & App Launcher

Actual Window Manager - very comprehensive- (or cheaper Actual Title Buttons) adds button on the title bar- and more features- including Favourite Folders, Recent folders, On top, more... but not cheap.


Someone said recently that FileboxExtender (deceased, 2011) still worked for them- I used to use it:
FileBox eXtender - keep favorite folders at your fingertips
(Adds title bar buttons).

Qttabbar (file explorer addon - adds tabs, colours, features and recent files via rt click is free).

Tried clearing f. explorer history and resetting defaults, and now f. explorer jump list only shows Pinned above the basic 3 at the bottom. That was a while ago, so I'd have expected Recent or whatever to have reappeared.