How to disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11/10

Windows 11/10/8/7 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. To do this, simply follow these instructions.

Disable Taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 11/10

1] Using Windows Settings

Windows 11

To disable Recent items as well as Pinned items 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.

Windows 10

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.

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 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.

Go here if you find that your Jump List is missing or disappeared permanently in Windows 11/10.