How to delete the recent play list from Windows Media Player (243621)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 10
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.2
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.1
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.0
  • Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 Concise Edition
  • Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000 Deluxe Edition
This article was previously published under Q243621
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to remove the recent entries from the Windows Media Player play list.

MORE INFORMATION

Use either of the following methods to remove the most recent entries from the Windows Media Player play list:
  • Use either the ClearMRU.exe file in the Windows Media Player Bonus Pack for Media Player 7.1 or the Windows Media Player Bonus Pack for Windows XP. To download the Windows Media Player Bonus Packs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9194bb10-00ea-4500-859d-9a319738d4d8

    Note The Media Player Bonus Pack used to be known as the Windows Media Player PowerToys utility.

  • Use Registry Editor to manually delete either the RecentURLList key or the RecentFileList key.
  • Use the Clear History feature in Windows Media Player 9 Series.

Using Registry Editor

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To remove the play list entries:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate, and then click the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\RecentFileList

  3. If you are using Windows Media Player 6.4, click RecentURLList, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.

    If you are using either Windows Media Player 7, 7.1, or Windows Media Player for Windows XP, click RecentFileList, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  4. Quit Registry Editor.
Note This registry key is re-created the next time you open a file in Media Player.

Remove Items from the Registry

To remove items from the play list, you can clear either of the following registry keys:
  • To remove content that has been streamed from a particular Web site, clear the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\RecentURLList

  • To remove the entire file list that you recently played, clear the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\RecentFileList

Both of these settings exist for the Media Player 7 and later. If you clear the RecentFileList setting, you may not remove sufficient content. Some URL files may still appear on the player screen.

Removing recent entries in Windows Media Player 9 and 10 series

  1. Click Options under the Tools menu.
  2. Click the Privacy tab.
  3. Click the Clear History button to clear Windows Media Player's recently played files list.
  4. If you are using Windows Media Player 9, click the Clear CD/DVD button to clear Windows Media Player's recently played CD and DVD list.
  5. If you are using Windows Media Player 10, click the Clear Caches button to clear Windows Media Player's recently played CD and DVD list.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/30/2006
Keywords:kbhowto kbsound KB243621
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