Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10  

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    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

    How to Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Performance & Maintenance
    08 Mar 2024
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

    Clearing File Explorer history deletes the information Windows saved about the files and folders you use as well as what you've typed in the address bar.

    This tutorial will show you how to clear the history of File Explorer and Run dialog box for your account in Windows 10.


    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Clear File Explorer History in Windows 11



    Contents

    • Option One: Clear File Explorer and history in File Explorer Options
    • Option Two: Clear File Explorer history using a BAT file



    EXAMPLE: File Explorer history

    (Quick access - unpinned Frequent folders and Recent files)
    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-clear_quick_access.png

    (File Explorer File menu - unpinned Frequent places)
    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-file_explorer_file_menu_frequent_places.png

    (File Explorer jump list)
    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-file_explorer_jump_list_frequent_history.png

    (File Explorer address bar typed history)
    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-file_explorer_typed_address_bar_history.png

    (Run dialog box typed history)
    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-run_typed_history.png






    OPTION ONE

    Clear File Explorer and Run dialog box history in File Explorer Options


    1 Open File Explorer Options.

    2 In the General tab, click/tap on the Clear button for Clear File Explorer history under Privacy. (see screenshot below)

    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-file_explorer_options_clear_file_explorer_history.png

    3 You can now close File Explorer Options if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Clear File Explorer and Run dialog box history using a BAT file


    This option is more thorough than option one.

    The downloadable .bat file in this option contains the commands below that will delete these items to clear File Explorer history for your account.

    Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*
    Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*
    Del /F /Q %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations\*
    REG Delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /VA /F
    REG Delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths /VA /F
    rundll32 InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 1


    1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.

    Clear_File_Explorer_History.bat

    Download

    2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    3 Unblock the .bat file.

    4 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    Thanks for that explanation Shawn. Just wanted to clarify a couple of things:

    #1 - both methods (.bat file method & clear history in explorer method) accomplish exactly the same things, and one only needs to use one or the other method depending on personal preference;

    #2 - both methods cover all of the items at the beginning of this article, namely:
    a:) quick access - unpinned frequent, and MRU;
    b:) jump list;
    c:) address bar histories

    Thanks for your help and explanation! much appreciated!

    David

    PS. what about MRU's and frequent history in MS office programs such as MS work or Excel. Does this cover them as well, or are those histories under a different section of the registry?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello David, :)

    That's correct. Both options perform the same action and affect the same thing. I like to try and provide different ways to do the same thing to help folks do it the way that's easiest for them.

    I believe the one's for Office will be different. The tutorial is basically just for explorer items.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Home
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello David, :)

    That's correct. Both options perform the same action and affect the same thing. I like to try and provide different ways to do the same thing to help folks do it the way that's easiest for them.

    I believe the one's for Office will be different. The tutorial is basically just for explorer items.
    OK thanks for the quick response!

    I guess that will be a topic for another day! :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Win10
       #4

    Sorry to raise this thread from the dead, but the solution is not working completely for me. I used the batch file option and it cleared the executables from the run list (regedit, cmd, notepad, etc.), but not the file locations. When I type a drive letter it auto completes for a file on a thumb drive. Please see below. I have searched the registry forward and backwards and I cannot find this item anywhere.



    Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10-fileloc.png
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    timoteob said:
    Sorry to raise this thread from the dead, but the solution is not working completely for me. I used the batch file option and it cleared the executables from the run list (regedit, cmd, notepad, etc.), but not the file locations. When I type a drive letter it auto completes for a file on a thumb drive. Please see below. I have searched the registry forward and backwards and I cannot find this item anywhere.
    Hello Tim,

    Does option 1 completely clear it for you instead?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 4
    Win10
       #6

    No, the file still shows up after I clear the file explorer history.

    Thanks
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    timoteob said:
    No, the file still shows up after I clear the file explorer history.

    Thanks
    If wanted, you could disable AutoSuggest to not see anything.

    Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in File Explorer and Run in Windows
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 4
    Win10
       #8

    Thanks for your time and the suggestion.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    timoteob said:
    Thanks for your time and the suggestion.
    You're most welcome.
      My Computers


 

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