Lena Rivera
The Microsoft Paint application displays a maximum of nine entries in the Recent images list, showing only the file name and not the full path. For privacy reasons, you may want to delete these recent files as they may contain potentially confidential information. There are several ways to do this, including using the File Explorer or Registry Editor. The simplest method is to move the photo out of the location from which it was opened in Paint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of files displayed in "Recent images" list | 9 |
| File information displayed | File name only, not the full path |
| File listing order | By date of access, with the most recent being displayed first |
| Deletion method | Using File Explorer, Registry Editor, BAT file, or moving the photo out of the location from where it was opened in Paint |
| Backup recommendation | Backup the entire Windows registry before making changes |
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What You'll Learn
Delete individual files from the Recent Pictures list
To delete individual files from the Recent Pictures list in Paint, you will need to edit the Windows Registry. First, ensure that the Paint app is closed. Then, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "regedit" and press Enter.
- When prompted by UAC, click 'Yes'.
- In the Registry Editor, locate the following: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List.
- In the right pane of the Recent File List, find the specific File string value that corresponds to the recent picture you want to delete.
- Right-click on the desired File, then select 'Delete'.
- Choose 'Yes' to confirm the deletion.
Repeat these steps for any other individual files you wish to remove from the Recent Pictures list in Paint. Once you have made your desired changes, close the Registry Editor and reopen the Paint app. The files you deleted should no longer appear in the Recent Pictures list.
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Clear all Recent Pictures in Paint using a BAT file
To clear all recent pictures in Paint using a BAT file, follow these steps:
- First, close the Paint app if it is currently open.
- Download the "Clear_all_Recent_Pictures_in_Paint.bat" file from a trusted source.
- Save the .bat file to your desktop or any desired location.
- Unblock the .bat file.
- Run the .bat file by double-clicking on it.
- You can now delete the .bat file if it is no longer needed.
The BAT file contains a command that deletes the "Recent File List" key from the Windows Registry, effectively clearing all the recent pictures stored in Paint.
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List" /F
Please note that modifying the Windows Registry can be risky, and incorrect changes can cause system instability or other issues. It is always recommended to back up the Registry before making any changes and ensure that you have administrative privileges to perform these actions.
Additionally, you can also clear individual items from the recent pictures list in Paint without affecting the other files. To do this, open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List
In the right pane, look for the File# string value that corresponds to the recent picture file path you want to delete. When you find the correct file, right-click on it and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion by clicking "Yes." Repeat this process for any other recent pictures you want to clear.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and clear your recent pictures list in Paint using a BAT file or through manual deletion in the Registry Editor.
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Clear Recent Pictures in Paint using File Explorer
To clear recent pictures in Paint using File Explorer, follow these steps:
- Backup your Windows Registry: It is always a good idea to back up your Windows registry before making any changes. This can be done by right-clicking on the blue Computer icon in the top left corner and selecting "Export." Name the file something indicative of its contents, like "Full Registry Backup," and ensure that it has the ".reg" file extension before clicking "Save."
- Navigate to the "Recent File List" in the Registry Editor: Open the Start menu and type "regedit" in the search bar to open the Registry Editor. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List"
- Identify the Recent Picture Files: In the right pane of the "Recent File List" key, you will see a list of files with their respective paths. Identify the specific picture file(s) you want to delete from the recent pictures list in Paint.
- Delete the Selected File(s): Right-click on the file(s) you want to delete and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion by clicking "Yes" when prompted. Repeat this step for any other recent pictures you wish to clear from Paint.
- Close the Registry Editor and Paint: Once you have finished deleting the desired files, close the Registry Editor. Make sure that the Paint applet is also closed. You don't need to restart your computer, but if Paint is open during the deletion process, you won't be able to remove the files from the recent pictures list.
- Reopen Paint: After closing and reopening Paint, the file(s) you deleted should no longer appear in the recent pictures list. If you deleted all the files, the list should be empty.
By following these steps, you can selectively clear recent pictures from the Paint app using the Windows Registry and File Explorer.
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Clear Recent Pictures in Paint by editing the Windows Registry
To clear the list of recent pictures in Paint, you can edit the Windows registry. Here's how to do it:
First, log in to Windows 10 with an account that has administrative privileges. In the Windows 10 search box, type "regedit" and press Enter. Select the "Registry Editor" app. When prompted, "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", select "Yes".
It is recommended to back up your entire Windows registry before making any changes. To do this, highlight the blue Computer icon in the top left-hand corner, right-click and select "Export". Name the file something like "Full Registry Backup". The exported file will have the "reg" extension. Click "Save".
Now, navigate to the following key in the left pane of the Registry Editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List. In the right pane, you will see all the files listed along with their complete paths.
To delete specific files from the recent pictures list, right-click on the desired file and select "Delete". Confirm the deletion by clicking "Yes". Repeat this step for any other files you wish to remove.
If you want to delete the entire list, simply delete the "Recent File List" key and reboot your computer. Windows will automatically restore the empty "Recent File List" key after the reboot.
Once you have made the desired changes, close the Registry Editor. You don't need to restart your computer; simply close the Paint applet and reopen it. The files you deleted should no longer appear in the recent pictures list.
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Clear Recent Pictures in Paint by moving the photo location
To clear recent pictures in Paint by moving the photo location, follow these steps:
First, close the Paint app if it is currently open. Then, locate the photo file on your computer that you wish to remove from the recent pictures list in Paint. Move this photo file to a different folder or location on your computer. For example, if the photo is currently on your desktop, move it to a specific folder within your Documents folder.
Now, open the Paint app. Go to 'File', and then click on the 'Recent Pictures' list. From the list of recent pictures, click on the file name of the photo that you just moved to a different location. A small dialogue box will appear, informing you that the photo file cannot be found. Click 'Okay' on the dialogue box.
Repeat these steps for each file name you wish to remove from the recent pictures list in Paint. By moving the photo location and then attempting to open it through Paint, you effectively "trick" the program into thinking the file is no longer available, thus clearing it from the recent pictures list.
This method is a quick and easy way to clear individual items from the recent pictures list in Paint without having to edit the Windows registry or use the Registry Editor app.
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Frequently asked questions
The simplest way to delete a file is to use File Explorer. Find the file you want to delete, close it, then right-click on the filename and choose 'Delete' from the context menu.
Press the Windows + R keys, type 'regedit', and press Enter. When prompted by UAC, click 'Yes'. Then, in the Registry Editor, locate the following: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List. Now, from the right pane of Recent File List, look for a listed File string value that has the recent picture path that you wanted to delete. When found, right-click and select 'Delete'. When prompted to confirm, select 'Yes'.
No, you only need to close the Paint applet and reopen it.
Recent files can sometimes show potentially confidential information or give hints that can be used to extract useful information.
Yes, an alternative method is to move the photo out of the location from where you opened it in Paint. Open Paint > File > then in the Recent pictures list, click on the file name you want to delete. A small dialogue box will appear informing you that the photo file cannot be found. Click 'Okay'. The file name is now gone from the list.
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