Remove or clear 'Recents' list (CMD-SHIFT-F )

You can't. It is just a search folder. You would have to remove the kMDItemLastUsedDate metadata from the files to remove them from the Recents search folder.

Anyone can just type a * in the search field of a Finder window, sort by date modified, and see all of your recent files. There is no bit of privacy management that can prevent that, either, short of disabling your Spotlight index.

Even then you can just open folders and sort by date modified which is file system data, so no way to disable or hide it.

The simplest way to prevent unwanted "spying" is to not let other people use your account.

Jürgen-Lorenz Simon wrote:

Indeed. However, if someone manages to hack or obtain your password, they may get access. Standard procedure is to eliminate your history so that you don't make things too easy for them. Not to mention spyware and whatnot.

The history is there in the file system data. You can't eliminate that history.

Just type * in the search field in Finder, select This Mac, then sort by date modified. There is no hiding.

How did you come by the information that 'kMDItemLastUsedDate' is to blame?

I looked at the search criteria for the Recents Smart Folder. Open Recents and select "Show Search Criteria" from the ellipsis button in the toolbar.

And if so, should not Apple provide a means to erase that information at our request?

There would be no point as I already demonstrated.

Don't open files from the Finder. As far as I can tell, nothing else sets that metadata.

I just thought of this and it might be worth a try. Download the free app called Onyx. It clears out many if not all temporary caches in macOS.

As a caution, it does clear out all browser caches so any saved logins will have to be re-logged in with 2FA if using that.

https://titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html

Go to System Settings, Desktop & Dock and change Recent Documents, Applicatoins and Servers to 'None'.

Sorry to report and Stand to be corrected 😔

The previous two commands did work in Ventura 13.3.1(a) but Do not work in Ventura 13.4

Have tried another command below which is reported to work in macOS 11 Bug Sur

It too fails to Clear Recent in Finder >> Go To

defaults delete com.apple.finder GoToField; Killall Finder 

The Good Old and refer to image below

Finder >> Go and Clear Menu Does work

No, you can’t. It’s a list function, metadata list.

Interesting. I just now tried it and it worked perfectly. I'd suggest you boot into safemode to let the system run its diagnostics and repair what if finds wrong. I did however, reboot after setting it to 'None'.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Digging a little on that note, it seems the property no longer exists or is not accessible using xattr:

xattr -d com.apple.metadata:kMDItemLastUsedDate somefile

No such xattr: com.apple.metadata:kMDItemLastUsedDate

Use mdls

To Hack the computer would require the Hacker Direct and Physical Access to this computer.

Then, they would require Knowing the Strong User Admin Password the user should have for this computer.

Once and If that was done, they could possibly install there Hacking Software on this computer.

Even at that - the Hacking software was only affect the User Account on which it was installed

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The only Entity that can open and modify or alter this Volume is Apple.

That would occur when a update or UpGrade is performed.

Jürgen-Lorenz Simon wrote:

I admire your faith in the security of this system, but I do not share it. Also the answer is off topic. My question really is how I can remove this function or at least clear that list.

Perhaps so, then I should expect a Notification from the Moderators to that effect " is off topic " .

Though as the User wrote " Indeed. However, if someone manages to hack or obtain your password, they may get access . . . " which does open the scope of this question beyond the Original Issue IMHO