This tutorial details how to disable storing of recently accessed programs in Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10. A small but useful feature of Windows 10 involves storing a list of recently accessed programs and locations in the Start Menu (if you use in favor of the Start Screen) and the Taskbar (under the “Recent” section of the Windows Explorer jump list).
While this is highly convenient for quickly accessing frequently accessed programs, it also presents a little bit of a security issue. That’s because anyone can view your file access history, especially in cases when there’s only a single account configured on a PC that’s accessed by multiple users.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Thanks to a simple setting, Windows 10 easily lets you turn off this locally cached listing of recently opened programs in Start Menu and Taskbar. Can’t wait to know more? Let’s see how you can disable storing of recently accessed programs in Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10.
How To Disable Storing Of Recently Accessed Programs In Start Menu And Taskbar In Windows 10?
Turning off the listing of recently accessed programs and locations in Start Menu and Taskbar is extremely simple and straightforward. Here’s a stepwise screenshot intensive tutorial, illustrating how it’s done:
Step 1: Head over to the Windows 10 desktop, and right click anywhere on the Taskbar. From the context menu that pops up, click on Properties.
Step 2: The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box should now appear. Click on the Start Menu tab, and under the Privacy section, uncheck the two similar looking options: Store and display recently opened programs in the Start Menu, and Store and display recently opened items in the Start Menu and the taskbar. Here’s a screenshot:
That’s it! Going forward, Windows 10 will no longer store a history of your recently accessed programs, locations and items in the Start Menu and Taskbar. This will also wipe out any existing listing(s) of recently accessed programs and locations. Pretty cool, right?
Also Check Out: Remove Task View, Search Buttons From Windows 10 Taskbar
Concluding Words
The ability to automatically store and maintain a listing of frequently accessed programs and locations is a pretty useful feature, that proves to be really handy when it comes to quickly accessing files and folders that have been visited before. However, for those who deem it a little bit of a security and privacy issue, Windows 10 provides a simple way to turn off this functionality. Do give it a try, and let me know what you think in the comments section.
