Office Settings & Configuration

How to Hide Recent Files in Microsoft 365 and Office Applications

Steve K Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to hide the recent files list in Microsoft 365 and individual Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

How to Hide Recent Files in Microsoft 365 and Office Applications

Product: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing privacy and decluttering the workspace by removing recently accessed documents from the startup screen.
Observed behavior: Files continue to show up in the Microsoft 365 app even after disabling recent files in individual Office applications because they use separate settings.

Before you start

Determine whether you need to clear recent files entirely across your system or just hide them within specific applications, as Microsoft 365 and individual Office apps maintain separate settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Set Recent Files Display to Zero in Individual Office Apps

Change the number of recent files displayed within specific applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to prevent them from showing up on the startup page.

This method disables the recent files list directly inside the specific Office program you are using. Note that this will not automatically clear the list in the overarching Microsoft 365 dashboard app.

Open Options

Launch your Office application (e.g., Word or Excel), click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the Options dialog box, click on 'Advanced' in the left-hand pane.

Adjust Display Settings

Scroll down to the 'Display' section. Find the field labeled 'Show this number of Recent Unpinned Documents' and change the value to 0. Click 'OK' to save your changes.

Set Recent Files Display to Zero in Individual Office Apps

Settings Applied: Your recent files will no longer be visible within this specific application.

Solution 2

Remove Individual Files from the Microsoft 365 App

Manually clear out recent documents from the Microsoft 365 dashboard if they continue to appear after changing individual app settings.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for Easier File Management

If you are tired of managing confusing, separate settings across multiple Microsoft 365 applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides an all-in-one workspace with straightforward privacy and file management settings.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software, then launch the unified WPS Office application.
3. Manage Files Easily: Open your existing Microsoft Office files directly in WPS and manage all your recent documents from one single, easy-to-use homepage.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsAll-in-one unified interface makes managing recent files simple and intuitiveFree, lightweight, and fast alternative to bulky Office suitesFamiliar user interface ensuring a zero-learning-curve migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my files still appear in the Microsoft 365 app after I hid them in Word?

The Microsoft 365 dashboard and individual Office programs (like Word or Excel) maintain separate recent-file settings. Changing the setting to zero in Word only affects Word, not the overarching Microsoft 365 app.

Will clearing my recent files delete the actual documents?

No, removing or hiding items from your recent files list only deletes the shortcut used for quick access. Your actual documents remain safely stored on your hard drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint.

Can I remove a single file without hiding the entire recent list?

Yes. In most Office applications and the Microsoft 365 app, you can right-click the specific file in the recent list and choose 'Remove from list'. This will hide only that specific document.

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