How to edit Windows registry to clear the list of most recently used files in Office 2003 and in Office XP (826208)

SUMMARY

You can edit a single registry entry to clear the most recently used files list that appears in most Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office XP programs. Many Office 2003 and Office XP programs maintain a list of the most recently used (MRU) files. Additionally, the programs display that list on the File menu and in several other locations. These locations include the Open dialog box, the Save As dialog box, and the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

The purpose of this feature is to provide quick access to files that a user is working on. In the interest of enhanced privacy, many users and administrators prefer not to have these files listed. Although you can prevent this list from being shown on the File menu in the programs, there is no built-in method for removing the list or for preventing its display in other locations. You can, however, edit the Microsoft Windows registry to clear the list of the most recently used files.

Note This article describes how to delete the files that are listed when you click File, choose Open or Save As, and then look under the File name box. After following the steps listed in this article, no files will be listed under the File name box.

This article does not discuss how to delete the files that are listed under the File menu. To do this, you must change the File menu settings in the Office 2003 or Office XP program. For more information about how to change the settings in the Office program, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Delete the Most Recently Used files list in Office 2003 and in Office XP

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
To delete the most recently used files list, follow these steps:

1. Start the program that you want to modify.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. On the General tab, click to clear the Recently used file list check box, and then click OK.
4. Click Start, and then click Run.
5. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
6. Locate the following registry key that is appropriate for your version of Office:

   Office 2003

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\Open Find

   Office XP

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\Open Find

7. In the Open Find subkey, locate the program that you want to clear the most recently used files list for.
   
   In each program subkey, you find another subkey that is named Settings. In that subkey, you find several additional subkeys. Each of these subkeys contains a most recently used files list. For example, the Microsoft Office Word\Settings subkey contains subkeys (depending on the past actions that were performed in Microsoft Word) such as Insert File, Save As, Open, or Modify Location. Under each subkey is another subkey that is named File Name MRU.
8. To delete a specific most recently used files list, delete the Value entry in any File Name MRU subkey.

Troubleshooting

Office 2003 and Office XP rebuild the File Name MRU subkey after you delete it, and begins to track most recently used files again. Therefore, you must periodically delete the list.

You can also create a registry file (.reg) by exporting that subkey of the registry in Registry Editor. Use that registry file to automatically apply the registry settings (in this case, the deletion of the most recently used files list).

You can also delete the whole Open Find subkey (or create a registry file to do it for you automatically) to remove all most recently used files lists at the same time.