Prevent Your Windows Media Player from Keeping a Recent-files List

Windows Media Player's (WMP) file menu shows a list with the most recetly played files. To prevent WMP 8.0 (and later) from maintaining this list:

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Select the HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Preferences key
3. From the menu select Edit > New > Binary Value
4. Name the new value AddToMRU
5. Right-click the AddToMRU value and choose Modify
6. In the Value Data: box enter 00
7. Exit the registry editor


To reverse, just delete the new AddToMRU value (or set the value to 01).

Note: To clear current entries from the most recently played files list, delete the registry subkey HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Player \ RecentFileList (see picture below)

To clear streamed media entries, delete the registry subkey HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ MediaPlayer \ Player \ RecentURLList