How to Turn On or Off "Recent Items" and "Frequent Places" in Windows 8 and 8.1
InformationRecent items and Frequent places is a list of your recently opened files, folders, websites, etc... in the Jump Lists of a program's icon on the taskbar, and in File Explorer (Windows Explorer).
This will show you how to turn on or off storing and displaying of recent items in taskbar Jump Lists and frequent places in File Explorer, and set how many items to display for your user account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
This will show you how to turn on or off storing and displaying of recent items in taskbar Jump Lists and frequent places in File Explorer, and set how many items to display for your user account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.
NoteAll recent items and frequent places are stored in the hidden Recent Items folder below.
C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items
C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items
EXAMPLE: Recent Items and Frequent Places in Windows 8 and 8.1
OPTION ONE
To Turn "Recent Items" and "Frequent Places" On or Off in Taskbar Properties
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Taskbar icon, and go to step 3 below.
OR
2. On the desktop, right click or press and hold on a empty area on the taskbar, click/tap on Properties, and go to step 3 below.
3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.
4. To Turn On Recent Items and Frequent Places
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Check the Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar box. (see screenshot below)
B) Set the number (0-60) of recent items and frequent places you want to display up to in Jump Lists and File Explorer, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The default is 10.
5. To Turn Off Recent Items and Frequent Places
NOTE: This step will also reset and clear all currently listed recent items and frequent places.
A) Uncheck the Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To Turn "Recent Items" and "Frequent Places" On or Off using a REG File Download
NoteThe .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Start_TrackDocs DWORD
0 = Turn off
1 = Turn on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Start_TrackDocs DWORD
0 = Turn off
1 = Turn on
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Turn On Recent Items and Frequent Places
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_On_Recent_Items_and_Frequent_Places.reg
3. To Turn Off Recent Items and Frequent Places
NOTE: This step will also reset and clear all currently listed recent items and frequent places.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_Off_Recent_Items_and_Frequent_Places.reg
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Recent Items in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Create a "Recent Items" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Back Up and Restore Jump Lists in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Reset and Clear Jump Lists in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Turn On or Off "Recently Opened Programs" in Windows 8 and 8.1
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