How To Clear Recent Files In Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player comes bundled with Windows OS. It plays most of the formats, but still it lacks what today?s users wants. If you would like to know about better media players, then head over to the article I wrote about some replacements for Windows Media Player.

Now, moving on back to the topic, in this, I?ll tell you a trick through which you can clear your recent files history in Windows Media Player (WMP). Well, privacy to everyone, right? :twisted: So, if your PC is used by many people and you don?t want anyone checking out what files you open, then continue reading.


Open your Registry Editor (Run > type regedit) and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\

Player\RecentFileList

For Files:

Delete the RecentFileList sub-key.

For Streamed Content:

Delete the RecentURLList sub-key.

In the end, exit the Registry Editor, and restart your computer.

That will clean your history for WMP. But if you don?t want to delete the complete history, then delete individual entries from the right pane. That will help you get rid of the files that you don?t want to see in the Recent File list.