How to get "My Recent Documents" in Windows 7

Anonymous
2010-07-07T00:54:16+00:00

Original title: My Recent Documents

I NEED  "my recent docs". I purchased Win7Pro because I asumed it was created with professionals in mind. People who rely on their computer for their livelyhood rely on "my recent docs" for a million things.

The "Recent Items" function does not seem able to locate any but the last version. When an earlier version is shown in he jump folder, Windows can't find it.  I need to know what I did yesterday, last week, and in 2002. XP does that, (pro and home b.t.w.).

Please tell me there is a setting some place that I just haven't found.  Everyone in my field  relies heavilly on "my recent Docs".  I can't believe it is gone.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-07-13T08:42:34+00:00

Here is how I got it back:

  1. Right click the Start/Win button, select Properties
  2. Click the Start Menu tab (it should be select as default)
  3. Click the Customize button
  4. Scroll down and check the Recent Items check box
  5. Click Ok
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click Ok

You should now have a "Recent" option in the start menu.

This is one of the nice things about Microsoft—backward compatibility :P

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Anonymous
2010-07-07T20:42:33+00:00

Hi carzonthehill,

My Recent Documents is removed from the Start menu in Windows 7. Windows 7 categorizes recent items by the program used to open them, and each program on the Start menu or the taskbar has a Jump List of recently opened documents, websites, or files.

This feature is by design in Windows 7.

Additionally, restoring the “Recent items” into the File Save & Open dialogue box doesn’t seem to be feasible.

You can open recent items from a Jump List in one click, or pin favorite items to the top of each list. For more information, see Using Jump Lists to open programs and items. 

However, if you wish to have the feature reinstated in Windows 7, you may leave your feedback/suggestion at the Windows 7 Feedback and Microsoft Connect  site.

Hope this information helps.

Gokul - Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-16T16:21:37+00:00

    Here is how I got it back:

    1. Right click the Start/Win button, select Properties
    2. Click the Start Menu tab (it should be select as default)
    3. Click the Customize button
    4. Scroll down and check the Recent Items check box
    5. Click Ok
    6. Click Apply
    7. Click Ok

    You should now have a "Recent" option in the start menu.

    This is one of the nice things about Microsoft—backward compatibility :P

    Ignatius,

    A few days ago, I found that my Recent Documents (after right click on Start button) had disappeared, so I searched and found your solution. I followed your instructions and it worked - my Rec Docs came back in the narrow vertical box on left side of the screen along with other selections.  Fine for a few days - now same box with Rec Docs has again disappeared. I repeated your suggested procedure and found the  "Recent Items Checkbox" was still checked, so I unchecked and checked it again. Didn't do any good

    • I still do not have the vertical box on the left side of screen after right clicking the Start button.  Instead - have long vertical list of other items. Win 7 often does not do the the same thing - twice, and has given me many other problems which I do not understand on this new Lenovo PC. 

    Don

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-10-28T23:12:23+00:00

    awesome hint!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-10-02T00:39:05+00:00

    yes I am really frustrated. I need to see my recent documents, but the recent list only shows few folders that  I had opened long time ago. I don't see any names of any documents there, and I cannot find anything I need.

     The worst is that the computer often closes my needed documents that I have opened when I am working on. Then It takes me an hour to search back for them.

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