GO menu> RECENTS FOLDER IS A DISASTER

Sorry Luis but I think you misunderstand the problem. Loren is not talking about the >GO > recent folders > clear recent folders option. She is refering to >GO > RECENTS that lists individual files not folders and has no "clear" command. Deleting these files does indeed move them to the trash, They are not "alias" as most Mac users would expect.

As others have told you already, deleting the Recents list does NOT delete the actual files.

Files are named with the names you chose, and stored wherever you have put them - they could be in your Documents folder, your Desktop, etc.

Maybe it is just that you probably don't remember where they were, but then

you can also SEARCH for them - using Spotlight, or using Finder directly.

If I may try again with 5 illustrations. if that may help

1 - Finder >> Recent Folders

2 - Finder >> Recent Folders >> Documents

3 - Finder >> Recent Folders >> Documents >> Open Documents

Yes, there is a File called " Personal Finances Moneydance "

What we understand or at least I understand

Is you want to Clear the History of Finder

To achieve that specific thing - easy >> Clear Menu

The Menu of Finder is then Cleared

4 - Clear Finder Menu

5 - Resulting in

I omitted to mention - the File called " Personal Finances Moneydance " is still located in Documents

Loren Miller1 wrote:

The delete action is established-- the Recents list, when cleared is copied without your knowledge to the TRASH CAN.

That's incorrect. Nothing is moved to the Trash. The Only thing Finder > Go > Recent Folders > Clear Menu does is delete a small file that keeps track of what folders you opened.

How are you "clearing" the Finder Recents folder from the Go menu? All it does it open the Recents folder. In any case, your signature indicates you are running Ventura 13.5. You should update to Ventura 13.7.2.

Part 1 of 2

There are two Terminal commands that may Clear the " Finder >> Go >> Recent Folder >> history

This action, does not Delete the Actual Files

It only deletes the Recent Folder >> History

Terminal commands below

defaults delete com.apple.finder GoToField

OR

defaults delete com.apple.finder GoToFieldHistory

Part 2 of 2

If you have used or are using Time Machine Backup Utility  you maybe able to Restore the Deleted Files 

For future purposes

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com

For the last time, Clear the List does NOT delete the files.

We are not looking over your shoulder, and cannot know exactly which steps you took, or which files you had that appear to be missing - but if they are indeed missing (and not just misplaced, or simply you are not able to find them, for some reason), it's due to some other action, NOT from clearing the Recents list.

You can either try to find the files - and maybe we can help there, if you tell us more information about what you are trying to find; or decide once and for all that they are gone, and then sorry, there is nothing we can do to help.

A final note: every Mac user should have at least a Time Machine backup, unless their files are not important to them. If you have, then you can always recover your files from the backup.

Ok, I see... the OP is using Go->Recents. Yes, this is a problem.

I am sorry that I and others were thinking of something different.

IMO, this one "Recents" is a completely useless thing. I have removed it from Sidebar, and I hardly ever use the Go menu in Finder; I never had noticed that Recents even appears there.

That said, it should be noted that any Mac user ought to understand what explicitly moving a file to the trash does...

Just to add, clearing the Recent Folders Menu does not erase/delete anything on my Macs.

OP wrote " The simplest fix- Apple dev should add a simple dialog triggered by any Go>Recents ops, with three buttons: Clear List | Move to Trash | Cancel. "

Adding a New Feature into macOS 13 Ventura this late in the development of macOS 13 ?

It is highly, not probable

The New Feature your are potentially asks for does not exit in macOS 14 nor in macOS 15

What makes one think it would be added to Ventura ?

Good luck

as stated, Clearing the recent list does not move files to the trash. Are you sure that you are not moving/deleting the files instead?

Go try but alas .... 😞

muguy wrote:

as stated, Clearing the recent list does not move files to the trash. Are you sure that you are not moving/deleting the files instead?

Self correction 😂

Good try but alas .... 😞