Windows 8 includes a feature called the “Run box,” which allows you to quickly launch programs, open documents, and navigate to webpages by typing out a command into the box. The Run box is accessible from the Windows Start menu, which is convenient for quickly launching applications or doing basic system tasks. However, the Run box also stores a history of your commands and this history could prove to be a privacy concern for some users.
Fortunately, it’s easy to clear the Run box history in Windows 8. To do this, first launch the Run box by pressing the Windows and “R” keys simultaneously. This will bring up the Run box. Next, type in “regedit” and press enter to launch the Windows Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following folder:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\RunMRU
This folder contains a list of all the commands that you have entered in the Run box. To delete the entire history, right-click on the “RunMRU” folder and select “Delete.” You will be prompted to confirm the deletion, so select “Yes.”
Once the folder has been deleted, the Run box history has been cleared. However, it’s important to note that the history will start to accumulate again as soon as you start entering commands in the Run box. To permanently disable the Run box history, you can use the Group Policy Editor.
First, launch the Group Policy Editor by typing “gpedit.msc” in the Run box. This will bring up the Group Policy Editor. Next, navigate to the following folder:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
In the right pane, locate the “Turn off Run command history” policy and double-click on it. Select “Enabled” and click “OK.”
This policy will prevent the Run box from storing a history of your commands. It’s important to note that this policy can be disabled at any time, so if you want to re-enable the Run box history, simply go back to the Group Policy Editor and select “Disabled.”
In summary, it’s easy to clear the Run box history in Windows 8. To do this, simply launch the Registry Editor and delete the “RunMRU” folder. To permanently disable the Run box history, use the Group Policy Editor to enable the “Turn off Run command history” policy. Doing this will ensure that the Run box does not store a history of your commands, providing you with added privacy and security.
