How to clear the Most Recently Used list (MRU) list in Office programs (313454)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Office Access 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000
  • Microsoft Publisher 2002
  • Microsoft Office Publisher 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
This article was previously published under Q313454
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

IN THIS TASK

SUMMARY

This article describes how to clear the Most Recently Used list (MRU) for the Microsoft Office programs listed at the beginning of this article. To clear the MRU, follow the steps for the program that you are using.

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Microsoft Access, Excel, PhotoDraw, PowerPoint, and Word

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  2. Clear the Recently used files check box, and then click OK.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  4. Select the Recently used files check box, and then click OK.
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Publisher

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.
  1. Click Start and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit and then press ENTER. The Registry Editor starts.
  3. Delete one of the following registry keys, depending on which version of Publisher you are using:
    • Publisher 2000:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Publisher\Recent File List

    • Publisher 2002:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Publisher\Recent File List

    • Publisher 2003:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Publisher\Recent File List

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Photo Editor

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.
  1. Start the Registry Editor.
  2. Delete the LastFile# and the corresponding LastType# keys in the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Photo Editor\3.0\Microsoft Photo Editor

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FrontPage

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.
  1. Start the Registry Editor.
  2. Delete the following registry keys:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\FrontPage\Explorer\FrontPage Explorer\Recent File List

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\FrontPage\Explorer\FrontPage Explorer\Recent Page List

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\FrontPage\Explorer\FrontPage Explorer\Recent Web List

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Automate the Process of Clearing the MRU

All the registry keys that you delete by the methods listed earlier in this article are re-created the next time that you start the program. If you intend to periodically clear the Most Recently Used list, you can partially automate the process. To do so, follow these steps.

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.
  1. Start the Registry Editor.
  2. Clear the Most Recently Used list by following the steps for your program.
  3. Click the parent key. For example, if you intend to clear the Most Recently Used list for Photo Editor, and you delete the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Photo Editor\4.0\Microsoft Photo Editor key, click the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Photo Editor\4.0

  4. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
  5. Type a name for the registry file in the File name box, click Selected branch, and then click Save.
  6. Periodically apply the registry file to clear the Most Recently Used list. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. Start the Registry Editor.
    2. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File.
    3. Click to select the registry file, and then click Open.
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Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/30/2006
Keywords:kbRegistry kbHOWTOmaster KB313454
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