How to delete items from the Recent Picture list in Microsoft Paint

The Microsoft Paint application, displays a maximum nine entries in the “Recent images” list, in the Paint applet. It displays only the file name - and not the full path. If you happen to load a tenth file, it automatically displaces the first listed file listed. Files that are loaded in the program gets listed by the date of access, with the most recent being displayed first.

If for some reason you wish to delete these items you can do so by editing the Windows Registry as follows.

Delete Recent Pictures list from Paint

Press the Windows + R keys in combination to bring up the Run dialog box.

Type regedit, and press Enter. When prompted by UAC, click 'Yes'.

Then, in the Registry Editor, locate the following:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Paint\Recent File List

Now, from the right pane of Recent File List, look for a listed File string value that has the recent picture path that you wanted to delete. When you find it, right-click on the File, and select the Delete option.

Chose 'Yes' to authorize the command.

Repeat the above steps for deleting other “Recent pictures” from the list in Paint.

When completed, close regedit.

Now reopen your Microsoft Paint. You will not see these entries.

Read: How to clear Recent Files and Folders in Windows 10.

Microsoft Paint is a built-in application in Windows that you can use to create drawings on a blank drawing area or in existing pictures. You might want to to check out these tips on how to use Paint in Windows.