- Article
- Applies to:
- Microsoft Office
Summary
You can edit a single registry entry to clear the most recently used files list that appears in most Microsoft Office programs.
Many Office programs maintain a list of the most recently used (MRU) files. Additionally, the programs display this list on the File menu and in several other locations. These locations include the Open dialog box, theSave As dialog box, and the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.
The purpose of this feature is to provide quick access to files that a user is working on. In the interest of enhanced privacy, many users and administrators prefer not to have these files listed.
Although you can prevent this list from being shown on the File menu in the programs, there is no built-in method for removing the list or for preventing its display in other locations. You can, however, edit the Microsoft Windows registry to clear the list of the most recently used files.
Note
This article describes how to delete the files that are listed when you click File, click Open or Save As, and then look under the File name box. After following the steps listed in this article, no files will be listed under the File name box.
This article does not discuss how to delete the files that are listed on the File menu. To do this, you must change the File menu settings in the Office or Office XP program.
This article does not discuss how to prevent shortcuts for recently used files from being saved in the location that is specified by the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\General\RecentFiles registry entry. By default, that location is C:\Documents and Settings\user profile\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent.
Delete the Most Recently Used files list in Office
Note
When the Recently used file list option is not checked on the General tab of the Options dialog box in Office 2000, in Office XP, or in Office 2003 programs, Word continues to save shortcuts in the default location. The default location is as follows:
C:\Documents and Settings\user profile\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent
The default location is specified by the following registry entry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\General\RecentFiles
To delete the most recently used files list in Microsoft Office XP or in Microsoft Office 2003, follow these steps:
- Start the program that you want to modify.
- On the Tools menu, clickOptions.
- On the General tab, click to clear theRecently used file list check box, and then clickOK.
To delete the most recently used files list in the 2007 Microsoft Office suites, follow these steps:
Start the program that you want to modify.
Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Program Name Options.
Note
Program Name is the name of the program that you want to modify.
Click Advanced.
In the Display area, click to select the number of files in the Show this number of Recent Documentslist.
Type the number of files that you want to display, and then click OK.
If you do not want to display any files, type 0.
To modify the registry key and to clear the most recently used files list in a program in Office, follow these steps.
Important
This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.
Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
Locate the following registry key, as appropriate for your version of Office:
2007 Office suite
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\Open Find
Office 2003
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\Open Find
Office XP
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\Open Find
In the Open Find subkey, locate the program for which you want to clear the most recently used files list.
In each program subkey, you find another subkey that is named Settings. In that subkey, you find several additional subkeys. Each of these subkeys contains a most recently used files list.
For example, the Microsoft Office Word\Settings subkey contains subkeys such as Insert File, Save As, Open, or Modify Location. These keys may vary depending on the past actions that were performed in Microsoft Word.
Under each subkey is another subkey that is named File Name MRU.
To delete a specific list of most recently used files, delete the Value entry in any File Name MRU subkey.
Troubleshooting
Office rebuilds the File Name MRU subkey after you delete it, and begins to track the most recently used files again. Therefore, you must periodically delete the list.
You can also create a registry file (.reg) by exporting that subkey of the registry in Registry Editor. Use that registry file to automatically apply the registry settings (in this case, the deletion of the most recently used files list).
You can also delete the whole Open Find subkey (or create a registry file to do it for you automatically) to remove all most recently used files lists at the same time.
As an expert in Microsoft Office and Windows registry modifications, I can provide valuable insights into the article you've shared. My expertise is grounded in practical knowledge and a deep understanding of the Microsoft Office suite and the Windows registry.
The article discusses a method to clear the most recently used (MRU) files list in Microsoft Office programs by editing the Windows registry. This feature keeps track of recently accessed files and displays them in various locations such as the File menu, Open dialog box, Save As dialog box, and Insert Hyperlink dialog box. The primary motivation for clearing this list is to enhance privacy, as some users and administrators may prefer not to have these files listed.
The article begins by emphasizing that although you can prevent the list from being shown on the File menu, there is no built-in method to remove or prevent its display in other locations. To achieve this, the article provides step-by-step instructions for editing the Windows registry, with a specific focus on clearing the list of most recently used files.
Key Concepts and Steps:
-
Overview of MRU Files:
- Microsoft Office programs maintain a list of most recently used (MRU) files.
- Displayed on the File menu and other locations for quick access to recent files.
-
Purpose of Feature:
- Designed to provide quick access to files being worked on.
-
Privacy Concerns:
- Users and administrators may prefer not to have these files listed for enhanced privacy.
-
Editing MRU Files List:
- No built-in method for removing the list in other locations, but the Windows registry can be edited.
-
Registry Editing Steps:
- Access the registry editor by running 'regedit' from the Run dialog.
- Locate the appropriate registry key based on the Office version (e.g., 2007, 2003, XP).
- Within each program subkey, there is a 'Settings' subkey containing various MRU subkeys.
- Each MRU subkey corresponds to a specific action (e.g., Insert File, Save As, Open).
- To clear a specific MRU list, delete the 'Value' entry in the corresponding 'File Name MRU' subkey.
-
Troubleshooting:
- Office rebuilds the File Name MRU subkey after deletion, so periodic clearing may be necessary.
- Users can create a registry file (.reg) to automate the process of applying these registry settings.
-
Caution:
- The article emphasizes the importance of caution when modifying the registry, as incorrect changes can lead to serious problems.
- Recommends backing up the registry before making any modifications.
This information provides a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in clearing the most recently used files list in Microsoft Office through registry editing, balancing the need for privacy with the potential risks associated with registry modifications.
