Clear Recently Used File List

Word does not provide an obvious way of deleting the contents of the recently used file list. You could use tools > options > general and uncheck the recently used file list box, (see below) or you could try a macro which uses the Help Assistant to provide dialog boxes. The macro code is included at the end.

If macro coding seems too onerous, then you can download an alternative version from the web site of my American friend Greg Maxey - http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Recent_Files_List_Editor.htm. I shouldn't encourage him this way, but his is the version I now use on my own PC.

ClearMRU macro

Sub ClearMRU()

'

' Macro created by Graham Mayor to clear Word's recently used file list.

' Updated 4 February 2006 and 6 July 2007

Dim sAssistant As Boolean
Dim sMsg1 As String
Dim sMsg2 As String
Dim sMsg3 As String
Dim sMsg4 As String
Dim sVer As Integer
 

sMsg1 = "This will delete your recently used file list"
sMsg2 = "OK, we won't do that then!"
sMsg4 = "Clear Recent File List"
 

sVer = Application.version
 

Application.DisplayRecentFiles = True
listsize = RecentFiles.Maximum
 

sMsg3 = "Your recent file list has been cleared and reset to hold " _
+ Str$(listsize) + " files."

If sVer < 12 Then 'Version is not Word 2007
    sAssistant = Assistant.Visible 'So use the Office Assistant
    If sAssistant = False Then
        With Assistant
            .On = True
            .Visible = True
        End With
    End If
    Set Balloon = Assistant.NewBalloon
    With Balloon
        .Text = sMsg1
        .Button = msoButtonSetOkCancel
        .Animation = msoAnimationBeginSpeaking
        ButtonPressed = .Show
    End With
    If ButtonPressed = -2 Then
        Set Balloon = Assistant.NewBalloon
        With Balloon
            .Text = sMsg2
            .Button = msoButtonSetOK
            .Animation = msoAnimationGoodbye
            .Show
       End With
       GoTo skipped
   End If
   If ButtonPressed = -1 Then
       RecentFiles.Maximum = 0
       RecentFiles.Maximum = listsize
       Set Balloon = Assistant.NewBalloon
       With Balloon
            .Text = sMsg3
            .Button = msoButtonSetOK
            .Animation = msoAnimationGetAttentionMinor
            .Show
       End With
   End If
skipped:
  Assistant.Visible = sAssistant
 

Else 'Word version is 2007
   Response = MsgBox(sMsg1, vbOKCancel, sMsg4)
   If Response = 1 Then
        RecentFiles.Maximum = 0
        RecentFiles.Maximum = listsize
        MsgBox sMsg3, vbInformation, sMsg4
   Else 'User cancelled
        MsgBox sMsg2, vbCritical, sMsg4
   End If
End If
End Sub

Note:

Watch out for prematurely broken lines when pasting the above macro into the macro editor.

If you don't know what to do with macro listings see - Installing Macros From Listings

Use tools > customize to add the macro to your Word 2000/2003 file menu as shown below.

Destructive Cursor

You can remove individual items from the recently used file list (in fact from any menu - so use with care) by means of the destructive cursor. You activate this cursor with CTRL+ALT+- (hyphen) and dismiss it with ESC or by actually using it.

The cursor appears as a thick horizontal bar - as shown below:

The destructive cursor does not work on task pane entries.

.