Windows

Hide Recently Use Documents/Programs On The Vista Start Menu

Posted by on Oct 25, 2007 | 3 Comments

Vista shows your most recently used programs on the Start menu as well as your recently opened files. The programs appear above the Start button while the documents appear under a submenu.

Displaying recently used programs and files is handy for quickly accessing them. However, some people consider it a security risk or privacy issue. They do not want other users knowing what programs and files they are using. In such cases, you can prevent Vista from displaying them on the Start menu.

To hide recently used documents and programs:

  1. Right click the Start button and click Properties.
  2. Verify that the Start Menu tab is selected.
  3. Under Privacy, uncheck the Store and display a list of recently opened files or program option.
  4. Click OK.

[tags]vista, windows, vista tips, vista help[/tags]

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/oztech/ oztech

    Very important tip for me so the girlfriend can’t see that I’ve been looking at David Hasselhoff photos all day. :)

  • baw

    My Recently Opened Programs list on the Start menu disappeared and even though I turn it on through the Taskbar I can’t get it to work again.
    Please help!
    BAW

  • Nadeem Amrir

    Steps defined here to clear recently browsed documents, etc is not completed. Its just explaining how to hide recently browsed files.
    If you want to delete the history of recently briwsed files, then follow these steps.
    1. Start Menu
    2. Right click on RecetItems Icon
    3. Click on Properties
    4. Next Click on Location tab
    5. Click on Find Target button.
    6. Select all files in a new window and delete.
    7. Check your RecentItems list, it must be empty.

    Enjoy it.
    Nadeem