How to Disable the AI Suggestions in the File Explorer [Windows 11]

AI suggestions in File Explorer are part of Microsoft’s effort to personalize your experience. These suggestions appear in areas such as Home, Quick Access, and sometimes in recommended sections, where Windows displays recently opened files, frequently used folders, and cloud-based content.

These recommendations are generated using your activity history, recent files, and sometimes synced data from services like OneDrive. While convenient, they can clutter your workspace or expose your recent activity, especially if you share your computer with others.

Disabling these suggestions involves turning off several related settings. There is no single toggle labeled “Disable AI Suggestions,” but by adjusting File Explorer preferences and privacy settings, you can effectively remove them.

In this guide, I will explain exactly how to turn off these recommendations in a simple way. You will also learn what these suggestions are, how they work, and how to fully control them.

Let’s do this!

How to Disable the AI Suggestions in the File Explorer [Windows 11]

To disable AI suggestions in File Explorer on Windows 11, open File Explorer Options, navigate to the General tab, and uncheck options like Show recently used files, Show frequently used folders, and related recommendations. You can also disable cloud-based suggestions by turning off Microsoft account syncing and privacy-based recommendations in system settings.

Now, let’s follow the steps in detail!

Step 1: Open File Explorer Options

First, you need to access the settings that control how File Explorer behaves.

Start by clicking the Start menu and typing File Explorer Options into the search bar. When the result appears, click on it to open the settings window. Another way to access this is by opening File Explorer, clicking the three-dot menu at the top, and selecting Options.

Once the File Explorer Options window opens, you will see multiple tabs such as General, View, and Search. By default, the General tab will already be selected, which is exactly where you need to be.

This section contains the core settings that control how files and folders are displayed, including AI-driven suggestions.

Step 2: Disable Recent Files and Frequent Folders

In the General tab, locate the Privacy section at the bottom of the window. This is where Windows stores and displays usage-based recommendations.

You will see options labeled Show recently used files in Quick Access and Show frequently used folders in Quick Access. These options are responsible for displaying AI-generated suggestions based on your activity.

Uncheck both of these boxes to stop File Explorer from showing recent files and frequently accessed folders. This step alone removes most of the visible AI suggestions from the interface.

After unchecking these options, click the Clear button next to the File Explorer history section. This will remove any existing recommendations that are already being displayed.

Finally, click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Step 3: Set File Explorer to Open This PC Instead of Home

By default, File Explorer opens to the Home view, which is heavily driven by recommendations and AI-based suggestions.

To avoid this entirely, you can change the default opening location.

In the same General tab, look for the option labeled Open File Explorer to. Click the dropdown menu and select This PC instead of Home.

This ensures that whenever you open File Explorer, you will see your drives and folders instead of recommended files and suggestions.

This step significantly reduces exposure to AI-generated content and provides a more traditional navigation experience.

Step 4: Disable Cloud-Based Suggestions from OneDrive

Some AI suggestions come from cloud integration, especially if you are using OneDrive.

To limit these suggestions, you need to adjust your OneDrive settings.

Click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and open its settings. Look for syncing or recommendation-related options and disable features that show recent or suggested files.

You can also pause syncing temporarily if you want to test whether cloud-based suggestions are affecting your File Explorer.

If you do not use OneDrive at all, you can unlink your account from your system to eliminate these suggestions.

Step 5: Turn Off Activity History in Windows Settings

Windows uses your activity history to generate recommendations across the system, including File Explorer.

To disable this, open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard. Navigate to Privacy and Security, then select Activity History.

In this section, you will see options that allow Windows to store and use your activity data. Turn off these options to prevent the system from tracking your file usage.

You can also clear your existing activity history by clicking the clear button in this section.

Disabling activity tracking reduces the accuracy of AI suggestions, effectively minimizing them across the system.

Step 6: Disable Suggested Content in Windows Settings

Windows 11 includes a broader system for showing recommendations in various areas.

To turn this off, go to Settings and open the Personalization section. Then navigate to Start.

Here, you will find options like Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer. Turn this option off.

This step ensures that Windows does not share recommendation data between different parts of the operating system, including File Explorer.

Step 7: Adjust Search Permissions and Indexing

File Explorer suggestions are sometimes influenced by search indexing.

Open Settings and go to Privacy and Security, then select Searching Windows. In this section, you can adjust how Windows indexes your files.

You can choose to limit indexing to specific folders or disable enhanced indexing. Reducing indexing activity limits how much data Windows can use to generate suggestions.

This step is optional but helpful if you want to further minimize AI-driven behavior.

Step 8: Restart File Explorer to Apply Changes

After making all these changes, it is a good idea to restart File Explorer.

You can do this by opening Task Manager, finding Windows Explorer, right-clicking it, and selecting Restart.

This refreshes the interface and ensures that all changes take effect immediately.

Once restarted, open File Explorer again to confirm that suggestions are no longer visible.

FAQs

What are the AI suggestions in File Explorer?

AI suggestions are automatically generated recommendations that show recent files, frequently used folders, and sometimes cloud-based content. These are based on your usage patterns and activity history.

Can I completely remove AI suggestions?

Yes, by disabling recent files, frequent folders, activity history, and related settings, you can effectively remove all AI suggestions from File Explorer.

Will disabling suggestions affect performance

Disabling suggestions can slightly improve performance because Windows will spend less time tracking and analyzing your activity.

Is it safe to turn off these features?

Yes, it is completely safe. These features are optional and designed for convenience. Turning them off will not affect core functionality.

Do I need to disable OneDrive?

No, but if you want to remove all cloud-based suggestions, adjusting or unlinking OneDrive can help.

Can I re-enable suggestions later?

Yes, you can always go back to File Explorer Options and re-enable the settings if you change your mind.