In early versions of Microsoft Windows, the most recently viewed documents on the computer are displayed in the My Documents or Documents section of the Start menu. For privacy concerns, some users may want to prevent these documents from showing. Below are the steps on how to hide the recently viewed documents from showing in My Documents and Documents.

Windows XP users

SafeXP

Using a third-party program, such as SafeXP, lets you remove My Documents from the Start Menu, and provides you with other features to help keep your data secure. See the Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000 download pages for a download to this utility.

  • Windows XP users
  • Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows 95 users

Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000

TweakUI solution

Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000 users can use TweakUI to clear document history at login. This action is accomplished by opening TweakUI from the Control Panel, clicking the Paranoia tab, and checking “Clear Document History at logon.”

  • Where can I get TweakUI for Microsoft Windows?

Microsoft Windows 95 users

  • Click Start, Run, type Regedit and click OK.
  • Go to the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
SOFTWARE
MICROSOFT
Windows
CURRENTVERSION
EXPLORER
SHELLFOLDERS\

Once in this key, go into the recent section and change the value from c:\windows\recent to c:\recycled and click OK. This places all the documents in the Recycle Bin.

The steps below requires the user to edit the registry. Review our registry help page to familiarize yourself with the potential issues.

  • How to clear Microsoft Windows most recent Documents.
  • Microsoft Windows help and support.