Clear DirectX recent application history
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: Minimum
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script removes the most recent application usage data stored by DirectX to enhance privacy.
DirectX is a set of Windows components that helps software (often games and multimedia applications) to work directly with video and audio hardware 1. It logs the most recent application data in the system registry 2. Attackers exploit this information to gather insights about a target's system or network 3. Forensic analysts use this information to study your behavior 4.
This script enhances your privacy by removing traces of the last DirectX applications or games you have used. It can also improve system performance by freeing up system resources.
This script deletes all registry values under the key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D\MostRecentApplication
2 3 4.
This action may slightly impact DirectX's ability to optimize performance for recently used applications.
Sources
- How to install the latest version of DirectX - Microsoft Support. support.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-install-the-latest-version-of-directx-d1f5ffa5-dae2-246c-91b1-ee1e973ed8c2
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240708104416/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-install-the-latest-version-of-directx-d1f5ffa5-dae2-246c-91b1-ee1e973ed8c2 - What is Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll?. www.freefixer.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.freefixer.com/library/file/Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll-59895
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730213229/https://www.freefixer.com/library/file/Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll-59895/ - Direct3D Recent Program - vulnerability database. Vulners.com. vulners.com. (2021).
Original: https://vulners.com/nessus/MICROSOFT_WINDOWS_DIRECT3D.NASL
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20211206161019/https://vulners.com/nessus/MICROSOFT_WINDOWS_DIRECT3D.NASL - List of windows mru locations. forensics.wiki. (2024).
Original: https://forensics.wiki/list_of_windows_mru_locations
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240730213658/https://forensics.wiki/list_of_windows_mru_locations/
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- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear DirectX recent application history" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
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Help
How to apply or restore "Clear DirectX recent application history" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Clear DirectX recent application history
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
:: Clear registry values from "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D\MostRecentApplication"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$rootRegistryKeyPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D\MostRecentApplication'; function Clear-RegistryKeyValues { try { $currentRegistryKeyPath = $args[0]; Write-Output "^""Clearing registry values from `"^""$currentRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; $formattedRegistryKeyPath = $currentRegistryKeyPath -replace '^([^\\]+)', '$1:'; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Registry key not found: `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; return; }; $directValueNames=(Get-Item -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); if (-Not $directValueNames) { Write-Output 'Skipping: Registry key has no direct values.'; } else { foreach ($valueName in $directValueNames) { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $formattedRegistryKeyPath -Name $valueName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output "^""Successfully deleted value: `"^""$valueName`"^"" from `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully cleared all direct values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^""."^""; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to clear registry values in `"^""$formattedRegistryKeyPath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; Clear-RegistryKeyValues $rootRegistryKeyPath"
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Help
How to apply or restore "Clear DirectX recent application history" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
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About the Creators
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This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
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- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.