Clear the recent programs list for new users: registry value ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenuUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Policy ID: ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Start Menu and Taskbar

Registry

ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Name 'ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer' -Name 'ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null