Reset and Clear Recent Items and Frequent Places in Windows 10  

S Malik said:

I have a Windows 10 Pro version1909. I can't find these locations on my system:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations
or
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

Hello S Malik,

I just checked on my 1909 system, and I still have them.

Just to verify, did you copy and paste those paths into the address bar of File Explorer and press Enter to open them?

S Malik said:

No I didn't search in Explorer.

Yep, you won't see them unless you copy and paste those paths in the address bar and press Enter.

S Malik said:

ic. Thank you

You're most welcome.

mfessler said:

Hello everyone,

is there a way to clear the "Recent files" and/or "Frequent folders" only in Explorer without resetting all jump lists?
Like unchecking/check the two options "Show recently used files/folders..." in the "Folder Options" but via cmd.

I noticed while unchecking/check the mentioned options, the "5f7b5f1e01b83767.automaticDestinations-ms" is changed.
If one delete it manually, it will be created again but then files are listed under "Recent files" which were previously have been removed from Quick Access.
It seems the list is regenerated from the contents of "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items".

Is the whole interaction between Recent Items, AutomaticDestinations, CustomDestinations and maybe even the registry (?) documented somewhere?

Thanks and regards,
Martin

Hello Martin,

Unfortunately, recent items and frequent places in both Files Explorer and Jump Lists locations are all tied together.

I haven't found any official reference material on this at Microsoft so far. It sure would be nice to know what each specific automaticDestinations-ms file was for.

It has pretty much been trial and error while testing to see what one may be for.

"5f7b5f1e01b83767.automaticDestinations-ms" is indeed for favorites in File Explorer > Quick Access.

"f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms" is for Quick Access folders.

"1bc392b8e104a00e.automaticDestinations-ms" is for computer history from Remote Desktop Connection.