Faulty 'Recent' document list in OneDrive, File Explorer and Microsoft 365

Anonymous
2023-12-04T11:38:15+00:00

I understand there is a bug that engineers are working on and that this 'bug' is a big worry for many of us, ie. I'm seeing a 'Recent' list (shows in my File Explorer and on OneDrive) which includes documents that I did not open recently, and gives wrong dates of when opened. My Microsoft 365 Word files are synced to OneDrive. I use Windows 11.

I came across an additional worry concerning this today. I opened my Microsoft 365 Word and found the faulty 'Recent' list there, too. I clicked on the latest item on the list (which I had, in fact, opened yesterday via Explorer), and I got a message warning me that the file was a potential security risk. This is the main file of a novel I am working on and am doing editing each day. I find I can still open the document via File Explorer with no such warning and the document did seem ok when I opened it this way, but is it safe to do so? I have a deadline to finish my editing and need assurance there is no security problem and that this 'Recent' list problem will soon be rectified.

I have only noticed the wrong 'Recent' list in the past week or two, but there are other threads about this, one I have seen goes back to October with people telling of this same issue. In a later thread (in November) we were told it's a known bug that is currently being investigated. Please can I have an update on when it is likely to be fixed. Meanwhile, are our files safe to continue accessing and working on?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-27T12:48:55+00:00

    Are you not aware of "Recent files" in Windows Explorer under "Quick access"? It's "easy fast access" in either case: Launch Word/Excel > Open desired file in the recent files list or Launch Explorer (Quick access should be default landing page) > Open desired file in the recent files list.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-27T21:05:16+00:00

    I am aware, that is not helpful inside of Office Apps where files are pinned. Recent files and pinned files stopped working last week. It is clearly a change that Microsoft made in an update. I am a 40+ year developer and am well versed in these apps. Something changed to disable these two functions in the Office apps.

    Rob Alexander

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-14T19:04:06+00:00

    When I pause OneDrive, the recent list simply becomes empty. When I unpause OneDrive, the recent list is correct again.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-17T08:40:50+00:00

    Same here - my Recent list is now list of 58 random OneDrive files from my personal and work accounts.

    My Favourites/Pinned in Windows & Office were scrambled but I think after I sorted them out they've stayed good.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-05-31T09:29:35+00:00

    How on earth has this not been fixed yet? I’m astounded a company as large and successful as Microsoft seemingly has so many better things to do. I am a researcher, and this fault presents a whole array of security risks in various different contexts - not to mention scaring the hell out of me by making me think I’ve lost data, or accessed files I’m no longer cleared to access because they keep appearing at the top of my ‘Recently Accessed’ files list.

    Get your act together Microsoft.

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