Windows 11 File Explorer no longer remembers search history; how to reenable?

I submitted this to the Feedback Hub

Suggestion

"The current Windows 11 File Explorer no longer shows the search history, by design." WHY? I WANT IT BACK!

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-file-explorer-no-longer-remembers/02821954-7de0-4822-8727-a61a5464bd8f?page=5

"Windows 11 File Explorer no longer remembers search history; how to reenable?

Hahn - MSFT Microsoft Agent | Moderator

Replied on May 19, 2023

Hi Diplocaulus, and the other users who replied here.

The current Windows 11 File Explorer no longer shows the search history, by design. . . ."

Bad decision. I, and apparently lots of other heavy users, save a lot of time with that feature. Iterative searching is intuitive. Saved Searches is not a substitute, because it doesn't leave anything in the search box to build on. I can copy and keep pasting name:~= but many useful searches will include AND NOT or OR. Now I'm going to have to keep a text file open with many skeleton search terms. (After 37 years, I have more than 100K files and have used many different naming schemes, as well as having many imposed on me.) Screenshot shows what I want back.

[Can't upload screenshot]

Personally I think removing the search history is a wonderful improvement to privacy, but it doesn't go far enough. Please could Microsoft also remove the "Recent" file list in the File menu of Apps... especially Microsoft Office Apps. Any user who needs to return to a document they were previously editing is obviously not working efficiently - frankly it is probably about time they were replaced by AI.

I would also like to find documentation stating Microsoft intentionally did not include file explorer search history in Windows 11.

Changing the default for displaying recent search entries to off is somewhat understandable.

Removing the option and not allowing user control of that feature is not understandable.

I found a YouTube video 'How to Disable File Explorer Search History in Windows 11' thinking if you can disable it, surely you can enable it. Following the video, I used gpedit.msc to get to the File Explorer, Windows Components settings for 'Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box'. Available options are: Not Configured, Enabled, Disabled.

My setting was "Not Configured".

Setting to 'Disabled' did not resolve the problem.

Setting to 'Enabled' then 'Disabled' (again) did not resolve the problem.

Note: The settings window shows "Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7".

Hi Diplocaulus, and the other users who replied here.

The current Windows 11 File Explorer no longer shows the search history, by design.

Microsoft takes user experience very seriously, if you think this feature can be helpful to you.

You can submit your ideas and suggestions through the Feedback Center, and the development team will periodically review the ideas or fixes that are submitted.

Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app - Microsoft Support

After submitting, please share the feedback link here, as this will allow others on the forums to vote for your submission, including me. More votes will result in more visibility and higher priority for the development team.

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi Hahn,

Thank you for the information. Would you kindly provide a link to where Microsoft has indicated that it has turned off search history by design? (You're not a Microsoft employee yourself, correct?) That would be helpful. Thanks again.