Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

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    Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

    Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

    How to Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

       Information
    This will show you how to have recent items and documents clear automatically when specific or all users exit Windows 7. Clearing Recent Items will also clear the Recent items in Jump Lists as well.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

       Note
    This does not clear items that the users have pinned to the Jump Lists, or Tasks that the application has provided for their menu.




    OPTION ONE

    Using a REG File Download


    NOTE: This option will affect all users on the computer.
    1. To Enable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit for Only Current User
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
    Enable_Clear_History_of_Recently_Opened_Documents_on_Exit.reg
    2. To Disable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit for Only Current User
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
    Disable_Clear_History_of_Recently_Opened_Documents_on_Exit.reg
    3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

    4. Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

    5. Click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

    6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Through the Local Group Policy Editor


    1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

    2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)
    Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7-2.png
    3. In the right pane, double-click on Clear history of recent opened documents on exit. (see screenshot above)

    4. To Enable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit
    A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    5. To Disable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit
    A) Select (dot) Not configured or Enabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: Not configured is the default setting.
    Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7-capture.png
    6. Close the Local group Policy Editor and restart your computer.
    Thats it,
    Dinesh.









  1. Posts : 367
    Windows 7 Home Premium [64-Bit]
       #1

    Awesome! Thanks a lot. Rep''d you :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You are Welcome Mate.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 54
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - SP1
       #3

    Most Interesting


    Thanks Dinesh,
    For me this was a very interesting look at some of the inner workings of the OS. As I do a lot of back and forthing with programs, losing all the clutter with a log off or restart is just what I needed.
    While in the Editor I spotted how to put a Run icon in the Start Up Menu, so that's 2 birds with one stone. Most excellent.
    I'm not sure if this is the place to ask, but doing some reading on the items listed in this area I was wondering just as a piece of information, what this meant.
    "If you enable this setting, certain notification balloons that are marked as feature advertisements will not be shown."
    What on earth is a 'feature advertisement'. Surely Bill and the boys are not trying to flog us stuff from inside the system
    Real good tutorial, thanks.
    All the best,
    Mick C.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
    Thread Starter
       #4

    LOL thanks Mick.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13
    Windows 7
       #5

    Thanks. But where are the recent items stored? I want to add it to my Favourites so I can easily access them every time I click open or go to explorer, but I don't know which folder it is.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    deejay22 said:
    Thanks. But where are the recent items stored? I want to add it to my Favourites so I can easily access them every time I click open or go to explorer, but I don't know which folder it is.

    Thanks.
    Hi deejay, the recent items are stored in
    C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 19
    windows 7
       #7

    I tried to follow the step on the top. It showed me "no items match your search" after I typed "pgedit.msc". How can?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #8

    jackquals said:
    I tried to follow the step on the top. It showed me "no items match your search" after I typed "pgedit.msc". How can?
    Are you using home premium? I don't get it either, I think it's Ultimate and Pro.
    Just a guess.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 11,990
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #9

    Good tutorial and I thank you.
      My Computer


 
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