How can I get rid one of my files in my Recents list?

[DanLester]

Mac 10.11.6 Dropbox 55.4.171

In my "Recent Files" there is a file that someone shared with me 4 months ago. As in "JoeBlow added 4 months ago". No one has used it since then. I want it to go away. Do I have to ask Jow Blow to stop sharing it with me?? That file is NOT in my own sharing folder. That is, do I have no control over what is in my "Recent Files" list, and other people can litter up that "Recent Files" list of mine?

[DanLester]

Well, thank you very much. I did exactly what you suggested - putting Textedit.app in the Dropbox, letting it sync on all the associated files, and then removing that app. The offending file disappeared! Not quite sure why. When I remove the added files, why should it remove the one I didn't add? My Recents list is now clean.

[Elixir]

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@DanLester wrote:

When I remove the added files, why should it remove the one I didn't add? 

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Dropbox keeps tracks of about 20 files in the recent files list. When you add more that those number of files, the older entries goes away. So when you added the Textedit.app, i.e., 100+ files, the older entries are removed. Now since you deleted those new files, they are also removed from the recent items list completely emtying the list. Next time anew file is added or changes are made in your Dropbox, thoese will appear.

[DanLester]

Pretty subtle! And a nice trick for removing Recents. Thanks again.