Recent files list shows files which have not been opened by user

Anonymous
2023-10-18T07:04:00+00:00

Hello,

for a couple of days or maybe even weeks I noticed that in my recent files list in Windows Explorer several files appear which I did not actively open. At this moments there are 13 of these files in my list. All of these files seem to be on OneDrive.

This concerns me in two different ways:

Security: have the files been "touched" by some villaineous software, or have they just been checked routinely by Windows and its components?

Usability: In the recent files list are more then 50 percent of files which I did not work on and which will block my view on the files I did open.

I am hoping for advise.

Have a great time

Olaf.

***Moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Files, folders, and storage***

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2024-01-11T20:56:21+00:00

Has anyone tried unchecking "Include accoutn-based insights, recent, favorite...." under folder options of Home?

Open File explorer > click home > click the "..." > go to options > uncheck Include account-based insights...".

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T11:59:23+00:00

    It took him a long time to work it out, and he tried a lot of things, but I think the only thing that it took was:

    With One Drive open (Explorer view), click the 3 dots at the top of page, then click Options. Under Privacy, uncheck Show Files From Office.com. (Make sure that Show Recent and Show Favorites are checked.)

    I never changed my settings so this problem must have resulted from a Microsoft update.

    I'll be curious if indeed this fixes for you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T12:17:16+00:00

    When I uncheck "Show files from office.com" then those files that appear on my recent files list disappear, and only the files I have accessed show in the recent files list.

    So I'm a still worried, what does it mean to uncheck "Show files from office.com"? Why are the office.com files show that they have been recently accessed when I have not accessed them - could it be that someone has access to my office.com account? - Does anyone on the forum know?

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T12:30:25+00:00

    I agree -- Microsoft has a problem here. It's particularly strange that the Microsoft.com files don't populate in any specific order. For me, some may have been used a couple of months ago, and some not within a year.

    I spent an hour with support, to fix the Recent list, so I don't have the verve to address the underlying issue with the Microsoft.com files. However, if anyone wants to take that on, I can say the tech support was terrific. They gave a call back, rather than keep me waiting on hold, and the technician was terrific.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T12:47:30+00:00

    OH NO! I just discovered that having unclicked the Show Office.com files, now some word files that I have worked on are NOT in the recents and should be. This will be equally annoying. It's some kind of problem with One Drive's syncing I guess.

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