How to Disable Recent Files in Windows 10

Posted on by Summa Lai
  1. Open Personalization in the Settings app.
  2. Click/tap on Start on the left side. Turn on or off to Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar for what you want.
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Source

You can also set the following registry key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Just set the DWORD Start_TrackDocs value to the desired setting

0 = Turn off

1 = Turn on