How to Hide or Disable the “Recents” Folder on the Mac

Why The new macOS update brings the Recents Folder upfront when you open the Finder window on Mac? or In Finder Sidebar, Though, the Recents folder could be a pain in the head because sometimes it could show the files and folders that you don’t wish to see the next time. This article will show you two different ways to remove the Recents folder on any Mac, MacBook. And the Recents Folder is made up by the Spotlight search by tracking the files and folders that you’ve opened recently.

Irrespective of files, Recents collects all the files and folders and puts them in a single folder just to make it easy for you to access. Luckily, Recents can be hide and disable from Finder on Mac. Here’s how.

How to Hide Recents Folder in Finder

If you don’t want to entertain the Recents folder in Finder, then this is the best way to hide the Recents Folder on the Mac without affecting the system or any functionalities. Here you’ll have to set another folder instead of Recents; here’s how to do it.

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Click on Finder in the top menu bar.
3. Select Preferences.
4. Select the General tab.
5. Click on the New Finder windows show: option.
6. From the list, you can select any option except Recents, like any specific folder, documents, desktop, Macintosh HD, etc., whatever available there.
7. Close Preferences window.

Once you’re done selecting the alternate Folder instead of Recents, you’ll need to remove Recents manually from the Finder.

1. Open the Finder again.
2. In the Favorites sidebar, right-click on the Recents folder.
3. Select Remove from Sidebar.

Permanently Disable Recents Folder on Mac

You must be familiar with the Spotlight search; it is the universal program that is built within the macOS. Whatever folders, apps, documents are stored in your Mac can be searched and open within seconds using the Spotlight search. Spotlight continuously indexes all the files and apps stored in the Finder and gathers all the information about it, and reflects the correct results when searched using Spotlight.

So now we’re recommending you to deindex the Mac’s Hard Drive for Spotlight search. However, there’s one biggest drawback to this, when you perform these steps, the Spotlight search won’t help you find the files located on the Macintosh HD drive.

1. Click on the Apple logo.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Click on Spotlight.
4. Select the Privacy tab.
5. Click on the (+) button.
6. Click on the blue-colored up-down arrow and select Macintosh HD.
7. Give OK if asked for confirmation.
8. Then, click Choose.

The Spotlight search will still work to find apps, contacts, messages, but the Recents folder will be empty.