Hide the dropdown list of recent files

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer\Common Open File Dialog

Description

Removes the list of most recently used files from the standard Open dialog box. It also removes lists of recently opened files from the Open dialog boxes of Certified for Microsoft Windows programs.

  • If you enable this policy, the File name field is a simple text box. Users must browse directories to find a file or type the name of a file in the text box.

  • If you disable this policy or do not configure it, the File name field in the Open dialog box includes a drop-down box displaying the names of recently used files.

This policy, and others in this folder, lets you remove new features added in Windows 2000, so that the Open dialog box looks the same as it did in Windows NT 4.0 and earlier. These policies only affect programs that use the standard Open dialog box provided to developers of Microsoft Windows programs.

Note Image Note

This policy was documented incorrectly on the Explain tab in Group Policy for Windows 2000. The Explain tab fails to mention that this policy affects Certified for Microsoft Windows programs.

Tip-icon Tip

To see an example of the standard Open dialog box, run Notepad and, from the File menu, click Open .