Delete Run History in Windows

You might be running some programs that you do not want others to access for either privacy or security concerns, especially if you are on a shared computer. This article discusses the steps to take to hide Run history in Windows from the start menu, or more thoroughly delete it.

Steps

Deleting Run History through Registry Editor

  1. Click on the Start menu and select Run.
  2. The Run dialogue box will open. Type "regedit" (without the quotes).
  3. Click OK to open the Registry Editor.
  4. Browse and open the RunMRU List from the following location:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/RunMRU.
  5. On the right panel', you will find the programs that you have before used when accessing the RUN command. They will be listed as a, b, c, etc. Right click on the program you want to delete and click Delete. If you want to delete all of them at once, delete MRUList by right-clicking it and clicking Delete.
  6. Click Yes in the next dialogue box to confirm. You will then need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Hiding Run History in Windows 7

  1. Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
  2. Click Appearance and Personalization.
  3. Click Taskbar and Start Menu.
  4. Click the Start Menu tab. Under Privacy clear the Store and display a list of recently opened programs in the Start menu check box.
  5. Click OK.

Hiding Run History in Windows Vista

  1. Right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select Properties.
  2. Select the Start Menu tab.
  3. Under Privacy clear the Store and display a list of recently opened programs in the Start menu check box.
  4. Click Apply then OK

Deleting Run History in Windows XP

  1. Right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Select Properties.
  2. Click on the Start Menu tab. It is located at the top of the Properties window.
  3. Click on the Customize button.
  4. Click the Clear List button in the middle-right of the Customize Start Menu window.



Tips

  • You can also access 'Run' by pressing Windows Key + R.
  • If you want your Run history to be automatically deleted every time you start your computer, then go to the following location in the Registry Editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER → Software → Microsoft → Windows → CurrentVersion → Policies → Explorer. There on the right hand side panel look for "Clear recent docs on exit" - double click on it and type in its value as 1 and make sure Hexadecimal is selected. Then just click on OK and close the Registry Editor.
  • Create a Restore Point, to avoid any inconvenience if something goes wrong.

Warnings

  • Do not edit any other Registry entries unless you are certain that you know what you are doing. You can potentially corrupt your operating system.

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