How to disable recent items in Search on Windows 10

On Windows 10, the Windows Search experience can now show your recent searches to quickly return to them. The list includes the four most recent from web queries, apps, files, and settings that you searched in the homepage of Windows Search. When using the Start menu or search box in the taskbar.

Although it’s a useful feature that allows you to quickly remember and go to a previous search, it’s not a feature that everyone wants, even more if you are using a shared computer and you don’t want others to see these activities.

If you don’t want to see recent searches on Windows 10, you can disable the feature from the Permissions and History settings page.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to remove individual items or disable recent searches entirely in Windows Search on Windows 10.

• Disable recent search list in Windows Search
• Remove individual search item in Windows Search
• Enable recent search list in Windows Search

Disable recent search list in Windows Search

To stop recent searches from appearing in the Windows Search homepage, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

2. Click on Search.

3. Click on Permissions & History.

4. Under the “History” section, turn off the Search history on this device toggle switch.

   

Once you complete the steps, the Windows Search homepage will no longer display your most recent items.

Remove individual search item in Windows Search

To remove recent searches individually from the Windows Search homepage, use these steps:

1. Open Search.

   Quick tip: You can use the Windows key + S keyboard shortcut, click the Search Box or Search icon in the taskbar to open the Windows Search.

2. Under the “Recent” section, hover over the item, and click the X  button to remove it.

   

3. Repeat the step No. 2 to remove other recent searches.

After you complete the steps, the search query will be removed, and the slot will be replaced with another item.

Enable recent search list in Windows Search

To enable recent the recent search list on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Search.

3. Click on Permissions & History.

4. Under the “History” section, turn on the Search history on this device toggle switch.

   

Once you complete the steps, the search box will now start display recent searches. If you have less than two items in the list or don’t use Windows Search, an educational message will appear indicating the items that you can see in the list.

Microsoft is rolling out this feature as a server-side update for devices running version 1809 and higher, but it could take some time to reach every device.