Some running applications and programs pinned to Windows 7's Taskbar support recent/frequent files/folders/websites inside their Jump Lists, accessible by right-clicking a Taskbar button or using a mouse gesture. Sample applications supporting this include Windows Explorer, Notepad, and Internet Explorer.

By default up to 10 items can be added to a button's Jump List. For privacy reasons you may wish to reduce or eliminate this number. Conversely, if you find Jump Lists extremely useful you may wish to increase the number of displayed items.

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Click the "Start Menu" tab.

3. Click the "Customize" button.

4. The "Customize Start Menu" dialog box appears. Underneath "Start menu size", next to "Number of recent items to display in Jump Lists", enter/select a value from 0-60. Note that although you can choose up to 60 items, Windows 7 will not actually display this many items.

5. Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them.

To prevent Windows 7 from storing these entries, as well as recently opened items in the Start Menu, do the following:

1. Right-click an empty area of the Windows 7 Taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Click the "Start Menu" tab.

3. Underneath "Privacy", uncheck "Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar".

4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

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