Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Recent Documents Feature in Microsoft Word

by liuqiyue

How to Disable Recent Documents in Word

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing application that allows users to create, edit, and manage documents with ease. However, one feature that some users may find intrusive is the recent documents list, which displays the most recently opened files. If you prefer to keep your document history private or simply want to declutter the interface, you can disable this feature. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to disable recent documents in Word for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Disabling Recent Documents in Word for Windows:

1. Open Microsoft Word on your Windows computer.
2. Click on the “File” menu located at the top-left corner of the screen.
3. In the left-hand pane, click on “Options.”
4. A new window will appear. Here, select “Advanced” from the list on the left.
5. Scroll down to the “Display” section and uncheck the box next to “Show the Start screen when this application starts.”
6. Scroll further down and find the “Show this number of recent files” option. Change the number to zero (0) to disable the recent documents list.
7. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Disabling Recent Documents in Word for Mac:

1. Open Microsoft Word on your Mac computer.
2. Click on “Word” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, click on “Advanced.”
5. Look for the “Show” section and uncheck the box next to “Show recent files.”
6. Close the Preferences window to save the changes.

By following these simple steps, you can easily disable recent documents in Word for both Windows and Mac. This will help you maintain a cleaner and more private workspace, while also preventing others from seeing your recent document history.

You may also like