How to Disable the Windows 10 ‘Show recently opened items in Jump Lists’ Option

The Jump List History Feature

In Windows 10, when you right-click an application icon on your taskbar (or click the arrow next to it in the Start menu), you are presented with a “Jump List.” For applications like Microsoft Word or File Explorer, this list automatically populates with the files or folders you have opened most recently. This “Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar” feature is designed to help you quickly jump back into your current projects without having to navigate through your hard drive to find the files.

However, this feature is a significant privacy concern for many users. If you share your computer with family members or frequently share your screen during video conferences, you likely do not want your most recently viewed documents, photos, or private folders permanently broadcasted on your taskbar every time someone accidentally right-clicks an icon. To maintain a clean taskbar and protect your privacy from shoulder-surfers, you must clear this history and disable the feature.

How to Turn Off Jump List History

You can prevent Windows from logging and displaying your recent files via the Personalization settings.

1. Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon (or press Win + I).
2. In the Windows Settings menu, click on Personalization.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Start.
4. Look at the right-hand pane and scroll down to the bottom of the list of toggles.
5. Locate the setting labelled Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access.
6. Click the toggle switch to turn it Off.

Instantly, all existing Jump List histories will be cleared. From now on, right-clicking an app on your taskbar will only show pinned items or standard application tasks (like “Close window”), ensuring your recent activity remains entirely private.