How to disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11

Windows 11/10 has a taskbar feature referred to as the Jump Lists.  If you don’t like or use this feature, you can easily disable Jump Lists using Settings, Registry Editor, Group Policy Editor, or freeware Ultimate Windows Tweaker. Let’s see how to disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11/10.

What is the jump list on the taskbar?

Whenever a user right-clicks on the program icons on the Taskbar, a menu appears. The menu shows the recently or frequently opened files or documents related to that particular program. It is as if you can directly jump into that file without heading into its original location. You can click on the file to open it in the particular program and resume what you were doing earlier.

How to disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11/10

You can disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11/10 PCs in the following ways.

1. Using Windows Settings
2. Using Group Policy Editor
3. Using Registry Editor
4. Using Ultimate Windows Tweaker

Let’s get into the details of each method.

1] Using Windows Settings

To disable Recent items as well as Pinned items in Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar behavior and uncheck Show hover for inactive and pinned taskbar apps.

If you select this option, the hover cards for the taskbar apps will be shown.

To disable Recent items as well as Pinned items in Start, Explorer, Jump lists in Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Start.

Turn OFF the switch against Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.

The Jump List Recent items will no longer be displayed in Windows 11.

To disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Settings
2. Click Personalization
3. Select Start
4. Turn off the Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access toggle

In Windows 7, right-click Taskbar > Properties > Start Menu tab > Uncheck Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar > Apply > OK.

The taskbar icons will now look like this.

Related: How to disable Pinning Items in Jump List for Taskbar items in Windows

2] Using Group Policy Editor

You can also configure it through the Group Policy Editor.

You will find the settings here:

Computer Configuration > Administrative templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

Locate

• Do not display or track items in Jump Lists from remote locations
• Do not keep the history of recently opened documents

Enable it and it will no longer display Jump Lists or recently opened items or browsing history.

3] Using Registry Editor

Open Registry Editor, and navigate to the following key:

KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Right-click the Advanced > New > Key.

Create a DWORD key Start_TrackDocs and give it a value of 0.

4] Using Ultimate Windows Tweaker

You can also download and use our freeware Ultimate Windows Tweaker.

Navigate to Customization > File Explorer tab and select Disable Taskbar and Start Jumplists.

Also Read: Jump List is missing or disappeared permanently on Windows

How do I delete recent items from the taskbar icon jump list?

You must disable the feature to delete recent items from the Taskbar icon jump list. You cannot selectively delete files you don’t want to see in the jump list. To disable the jump list feature on Windows 11, open the Settings app, click on the Personalization tab, Select Start, and toggle the button off beside Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.

Related read: Taskbar icons not showing, missing, invisible, blank in Windows.