Emacs exchange question #58958

test.el

;; Check the files you want to skip are in the list already, by default shows the entire list
(recentf-open-files)

;; Add a *valid* pattern to exclude it, let's say .el files
(add-to-list 'recentf-exclude "\\.el\\'")

;; update the recentf list with the new added rule
(recentf-cleanup)

;; Check if the el files are now excluded
(recentf-open-files)

;; test again with counsel
(counsel-recentf)