How to Remove Recent Files from Mac
In today’s digital age, it’s common for Mac users to accumulate a large number of files on their devices. While some files are important and need to be kept, others may be unnecessary or outdated. If you’re looking to declutter your Mac and free up some space, removing recent files is a great place to start. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to remove recent files from your Mac, ensuring a cleaner and more organized system.
1. Using the Finder
One of the simplest ways to remove recent files from your Mac is by using the Finder. The Finder is a file management application that comes pre-installed on all Macs. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Finder by clicking on the icon in the Dock or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder.”
2. In the Finder window, click on “Finder” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, go to the “General” tab.
5. Under the “Show these items on the desktop” section, uncheck the boxes next to “Recently opened files” and “Recently changed files.”
6. Close the Preferences window and return to the Finder.
By doing this, you’ll no longer see the recent files on your desktop or in the Finder sidebar.
2. Using the Recent Items Menu
The Recent Items menu in the Finder displays a list of recently opened files and folders. To remove these items, follow these steps:
1. Open the Finder.
2. Click on “File” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Recent Items” from the dropdown menu.
4. Right-click on the file or folder you want to remove from the list and choose “Remove from Recent Items.”
5. Repeat this process for each item you wish to remove.
3. Using Terminal
For advanced users, you can use the Terminal to remove recent files from your Mac. This method requires you to enter a few commands. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Terminal application, which is located in the “Utilities” folder within the “Applications” directory.
2. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
defaults delete com.apple.finder.RecentItems
“`
3. Wait for the command to complete. You may see a message indicating that the command was successful.
4. Restart your Mac for the changes to take effect.
4. Using CleanMyMac X
If you’re looking for a more user-friendly solution, CleanMyMac X is a powerful cleaning tool that can help you remove recent files from your Mac. Here’s how to use it:
1. Download and install CleanMyMac X from the official website.
2. Open CleanMyMac X and click on the “Clean” tab.
3. Under the “Privacy” section, click on “Recent Items.”
4. Select the items you want to remove from the list and click “Remove.”
5. Confirm the action when prompted.
By following these steps, you can easily remove recent files from your Mac, helping you maintain a cleaner and more organized system.
