How to disable recent items in Search on Windows 10

The Windows 10 search box now shows recent searches, and if you don't want to see this list, you can disable it with these steps.

Disable recent searches on Windows 10
Disable recent searches 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

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.

    Disable Windows Search recent items
    Disable Windows Search recent items

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.

    Remove recent search item on Windows 10
    Remove recent search item on Windows 10
  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.

    Enable Windows Search recent items
    Enable Windows Search recent items

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.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.