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To find a file you opened recently, open File Explorer and select Home in the left navigation pane. If it was opened in Word, Excel, or another Office app, check that app’s separate File > Open > Recent list.
Find recent files in File Explorer
- Open File Explorer by selecting its folder icon on the taskbar, or find it from Start.
- Select Home in the left navigation pane.
- Look through the recent and favorited files shown there. You can also search for files on your PC and in connected cloud accounts. To enable cloud search, sign in to those accounts under Settings > Accounts. Microsoft’s File Explorer guide describes Home and its options.
If Home does not show recent files
- In File Explorer, select See more > Options.
- Under Privacy, enable the recent-files option, then select Apply.
- To show recent files without showing frequently used folders, turn off the separate frequent-folders option.
If both recent files and frequent folders are turned off, Quick access shows pinned folders. Windows menu labels can change with updates, so the wording on your PC may differ slightly.
Remove an entry without deleting its file
Right-click a recent entry—or long-press it on a touch screen—and choose Remove from Quick access. This removes the entry from the list; it does not delete the file. To open the file later, search for it in File Explorer or browse to its folder.
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Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other supported Office apps keep their own recent-document lists, with controls separate from File Explorer’s. In the app, select File > Open to view recent files. Microsoft explains the app-specific list and its controls in its Office instructions.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- To remove one entry, right-click it and choose Remove from list.
- To clear unpinned entries, use Clear unpinned Documents.
- To change how many documents appear, go to File > Options > Advanced and change Show this number of Recent Documents. Setting the number to zero hides the list.
Office recent entries may synchronize through a Microsoft Account. An older device coming online can bring older entries back, and files opened by someone else signed in with the same account may also appear. If a file was moved after it was opened, its recent entry can point to an outdated location. These behaviors apply to Office’s list; they should not be assumed for every File Explorer entry.
Recent files are not Activity History
File Explorer’s recent-file list is different from Windows Activity History. Activity History has separate controls at Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history for stopping its storage or clearing it. Changing those controls is not the same as changing File Explorer’s recent-files setting. Microsoft describes Activity History as device activity, including files opened and apps used. Its Timeline guidance directs Windows 11 users to recent files, OneDrive, or app history instead of treating Timeline as the standard way to find files.
Rank #2
- 【Plug-and-Play Expandability】 With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use in Windows（For Mac，first format the drive and select the ExFat format.
- 【Fast Data Transfers 】The external hard drives with the USB 3.0 cable to provide super fast transfer speed. The theoretical read speed is as high as 110MB/s-133MB/s, and the write speed is as high as 103MB/s.
- 【High capacity in a small enclosure 】The small, lightweight design offers up to 500GB capacity, offering ample space for storing large files, multimedia content, and backups with ease. Weighing only 0.35 Lbs, it's easy to carry "
- 【Wide Compatibility】Supports PS4 5/xbox one/Windows/Linux/Mac and other operating systems, ensuring seamless integration with game consoles,various laptops and desktops .
- Important Notes for PS/Xbox Gaming Devices: You can play last-gen games (PS4 / Xbox One) directly from an external hard drive. However, to play current-gen games (PS5 / Xbox Series X|S), you must copy them to the console's internal SSD first. The external drive is great for keeping your library on hand, but it can't run the new games.
For a missing document, start with File Explorer Home and its Privacy options; if you opened it in Office, check that app’s Recent list or browse from File > Open. A moved file may require locating its new folder rather than selecting the stale recent entry.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #3
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
- Plug-and-play expandability
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
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