Upgraded to High Sierra and seems to run well, but under the Go column in Finder is Recents at the very top...it accumulates documents and doesn't seem to end. How can I delete the Recents item. If I try to delete the files, they go out of my documents. I only want to delete the useless Recents list. Past systems like Sierra were much less annoying.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015)
ShazeeMaster wrote:
I think there must be a problem with Recents folder on side bar in High Sierra. When I’m deleting the files in recents folder they actually deleted from the original locations file. I don’t want my work to be safe in an easy access folder where anyone who use the same computer can see what work is going on this Mac. How to stop saving files in recents folder in side bar. Please help
There is nothing wrong with Recents (albeit the search criteria is lacking for its purpose). You don't seem to understand the concept of a Search Folder. Just remove Recents from the Sidebar if you don't want it there.
A Search Folder finds all of the files that match its search criteria and displays them in that one window. Nothing is moved or created in that "folder." It just gathers the matched files together. The files that are shown in a search folder act just like the original file, so if you open one, it opens the original file (not a copy of it). If you rename it, it will rename the original file. If you move it, it will move the original file (but it will still appear in the results of the search). If you delete the file, it will delete the original file.
If you believe that showing your recent files is the security problem, you have a lot to learn. The security problem is you allowing someone else to use your account on that Mac. If others need to use that Mac, then create accounts for them to use, or have them use the Guest account if it is only for quick, non-permanent access.
Whether they are shown in a folder in the Sidebar (or not as you can remove it from the sidebar) is completely irrelevant. The person you are trying to prevent seeing those files can create a search folder to find anything you have worked on within a few seconds: Cmd-F, enter "*" in search field, Sort by Date Modified.
If you yield control of your computer to someone else, you have absolutely no security. With separate accounts, you can at least protect your data from other trusted users.
See Touten's comment - it gives the correct answer.
IMHO, the current "answer" (by tygb) is wrong on two counts:
1) Files can be removed from Recents - by adding the directory containing the files (or your entire drive) to Spotlight's privacy setting.
2) Recents does not contain "All the files on your Mac".
Nope. All you can do is select Go > Recent Folders> Clear Menu
Thanks. I checked several times and it is unchecked, but still shows up. A major distraction. I'm hoping I will find a fix though.
Thanks. I found I can removed it from the Sidebar, but it stays under the Go menu even unchecked. I guess it's a small price to pay for High Sierra which so far I really like. Thanks again.
Thank you. I guess they will just accumulate if I don't get rid of them.
Recents in Finder Go Column Can't be Deleted
