How to Edit or Reset Windows 7 Explorer Recent Search Box Suggestions

   Information
This will show you how to either delete individual Windows 7 recent search entry suggestions in Windows Explorer, or reset it to delete all of them and have no search entry suggestions displaying.

These suggestions are based on the user's past entries into the Windows Explorer Search box.

   Note
Special thanks to Aaron for pointing this out.

EXAMPLE: Recent Search Results Box
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-recent_search.jpg



OPTION ONE

Edit Recent Search Suggestions in Windows Explorer


NOTE: This will allow you to delete any individual recent search box suggestions in Windows Explorer one by one without having to delete all of them as in OPTION TWO below.
1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click on the Search box line, then highlight the search suggestion (ex: Example 2) that you want to delete and press the Delete key. (See screenshot below)
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-step1.jpg
3. You will not notice that it has been deleted. (See screenshot below)
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-step2.jpg
4. Repeat if you want to delete another one.



OPTION TWO

Clear Recent Search Suggestions with a Download


NOTE: This will reset and delete all recent search box suggestions in Windows Explorer to be clear again. As you type anything new in the Search box next, it will be added as a suggestion again.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the
Reset_Recent_Search_Suggestions.zip file below.
2. Save the .zip file to the desktop.

3. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click the .reg file (On Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6.When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like.



OPTION THREE

Edit or Clear Recent Search Suggestions with Registry


NOTE: This will allow you to do the same thing as in OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above, but manually through the registry instead.
1. Open the Start Menu, and type regedit in the search line and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to: (See screenshot below)

Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-registry.jpg
4. To Clear Recent Search Suggestions
A) In the left pane, right click on WorldwheelQuery and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-delete_key.jpg
C) Go to step 6.
5. To Edit Recent Search Suggestions
A) In the right pane of WorldwheelQuery, right click on the number under the Name column for the search suggestion that you want to delete, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 3)


   Tip
How to tell what number is for what Search Suggestion
  • Right click on the number and click on Modify. (See screenshot below step 3)
  • You will see the name of the search suggestion mixed in the code. (See screenshots below)
    NOTE: For example, test (1) and sysprep (0) from the example at the top of the tutorial.
    Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-test.jpgRecent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-sysprep.jpg
  • Click on Cancel.


B) Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)
Recent Search Box Suggestions - Edit or Reset-delete_numbers.jpg
C) Repeat step 6 for any other search suggestion that you wish to delete.
6. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn






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