How to Clear the Regedit RunMRU List in Windows

This guide explains how to clear the RunMRU list in the Windows Registry, which stores the history of commands entered into the Windows Run dialog box. Following these steps will allow you to delete your stored command history, protect your privacy, and reset the Run prompt suggestions.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the application to make changes.

Step 2: Navigate to the RunMRU Key

In the Registry Editor, use the left-hand navigation pane to browse to the following path, or copy and paste it directly into the address bar at the top:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU

Step 3: Delete the Stored Command History

  1. Click on the RunMRU folder in the left pane to view its contents in the right pane.
  2. In the right pane, you will see several string values named with individual letters (such as a, b, c) and a value named MRUList.
  3. Select all of these lettered values along with the MRUList entry. Do not delete the (Default) value.
  4. Right-click the selected items and choose Delete.
  5. When the confirmation prompt appears, click Yes to confirm the deletion.

(Alternatively, you can right-click the entire RunMRU key in the left pane and select Delete. Windows will automatically recreate the key the next time you use the Run command.)

Step 4: Close the Registry Editor

Close the Registry Editor window. The changes take effect immediately, and the history in your Windows Run dialog box will now be completely cleared.