How to clear the History entries in Internet Explorer (157729)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.01 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.1 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.03 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02a for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
This article was previously published under Q157729
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 cached History (or Address box) entries in Internet Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

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 cached Internet address entries, clear the History folder. To do so, use the appropriate method:

Internet Explorer 4.0, 4.01, 5, 5.5, 6.0

  1. Close all running instances of Internet Explorer and all browser windows.
  2. In Control Panel, click Internet Options.
  3. Click the General tab, and then click Clear History.
  4. Click Yes, and then click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.
If the cached addresses are still listed in the Address box in Internet Explorer, use the following steps:
  1. Quit Internet Explorer.
  2. Delete all of the values except for the (Default) value from the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs

NOTE: Values in this registry key are listed as Url1, Url2, Url3, and so on. If you delete only some values and the remaining values are not in consecutive numerical order, only some of the remaining entries are listed in the Address box. To prevent this behavior from occurring, rename the remaining values so that they are in consecutive numerical order.

Internet Explorer 3.0

  1. In Internet Explorer, click Options on the View menu.
  2. Click the Navigation tab.
  3. Click Clear History, and then click OK.
If the cached addresses are still listed in the Address box in Internet Explorer for Windows 95, use the following steps:
  1. Quit Internet Explorer.
  2. Delete all the values except for the (Default) value from the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs

NOTE: Values in this registry key are listed as Url1, Url2, Url3, and so on. If you delete only some values and the remaining values are not in consecutive numerical order, only some of the remaining entries are listed in the Address box. To prevent this behavior from occurring, rename the remaining values so that they are in consecutive numerical order.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/25/2006
Keywords:kbhowto KB157729
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