An open application can rewrite its current recent-document list when it quits. Close the app before clearing supported history.
Opening a document afterward creates a new recent entry normally. Account or cloud synchronization can also restore history according to the owning app.
Clearing recent items removes supported history references; it does not disable future history creation or delete original documents.
Use the application’s own preference when you want it to stop maintaining or synchronizing history.
If old entries return without reopening files, identify the owning app and sync source before repeating cleanup.