Are you trying to delete files?

Adobe Acrobat is a program (or call it an app, same thing). Programs don't typically offer a file delete function. You can save a new version of a file you're working on, not more.

If that's what you're trying to do, the file manipulation program (app) in MS Windows is called File Explorer. That can be found on the list of programs under Windows System. It's icon looks like a partially open manilla folder standing on edge. File Explorer is frequently used, it's a good thing to put on the Taskbar too for quick access.

Why don't they just enable right-click-delete?

I've never seen right-click-delete as a feature in a regular application. But it is available in utility apps like File Explorer as one way to delete a file. File Explorer also lets you move files to other folders.

Report back if I've misunderstood you.

This is Acrobat Reader installed on your computer?

The Recent files list is a history (for convenience) of what has been viewed, to the limit of how many your Acrobat is set to "remember." There's a Clear Recent function at the bottom left, does it not work to remove everything from the list? Clearing the list doesn't delete the files from your hard drive, it just removes the references to them within Acrobat's history of what you've viewed.

There should be an option somewhere in Acrobat's settings for how many recent opened files it remembers. Setting the number to 0 should keep the list clear.

I have mine set to 0. It's an old version of Acrobat Reader on a Win 7 computer. The setting is under Edit / Preferences / Documents / Documents in recently used list. Yours may be different if a newer program version.

If you are wanting to delete the actual file on your hard drive, find it in the usual way via File Explorer as Elmer advises above. Deleting the file may or may not clear it from the Recent list but Acrobat can't open a Recent file via the remembered list if the file no longer exists.

I tried file explorer, but there was no option to delete.

Click on the file to highlight it, then press the delete button. Or, highlight it, right click, choose option delete.

This is unchanged from Windows XP 20+ years ago.

The Adobe Reader I have on my pc and iPad is version 25.08.00 and it has deleted pdf file option.

iPad app versions (which are the same as iPhone apps) are very different from PC programs/apps.

When I right click on a PDF file in Explorer, a dialog box shows up with a "delete" option in the upper right corner.

Another option is to drag the file to the recycle bin.

Lars, that's true for any kind of file.

On my pc desktop

In the Adobe app, the delete option is there for the selected file Greek…pdf

That's a File Manager Window that Acrobat called.

That's maybe a work around, but most people wouldn't think of using a File Open menu choice in a program to delete a file. Nor does deciding to spend a few moments cleaning up no longer needed files necessarily lead to thinking about any one particular program or file type.

File Manager is direct. Every task bar should have File Manager as an immediate shortcut that can be called anytime - whether in a program or in no program at all.

Adobe Reader is exactly what the name says - a READER. You cannot create or edit PDF documents using Adobe Reader. If you are just trying to completely delete a PDF document from your computer, you should follow the steps that others have already provided that tell how to delete files. But if you are trying to delete info from within a PDF document, you’re not going to be able to do that with Adobe Reader.

If the files are on your personal computer, why are you worried about personal or sensitive information in the files? Do others in your house also use the computer? If so, why don’t you have separate computer logins with access only to your own stuff?

If the OP was using Adobe Reader installed by an administrator for use in public places like library or an online version, it can be configured with limited file management options such as no delete option. There will be a cache version of the pdf file stored somewhere on the platform that is supposed to be cleared after op closes the reader. The original pdf file should still be where you had it (on the pc, thumb drive?)

Try this: assuming you use a thumb drive. Remove the thumb drive then click or double click on the file on Recent list to see if your document opens. If the document opens then the application is getting it from the cache. If you close the Reader then open the application again, the pdf file shouldn’t be accessible anymore. With online pdf reader, there is a risk of exposing sensitive info into the online cache platform on the other end that you do not have control once you give your source of pdf file from your computer or a thumb drive.

I agree with Lindsey's thoughts but I'll add that devices like tablets, smartphones, and PCs tend to accumulate files that are no longer needed. It's a good practice for any such device to give them a thorough and capacity liberating cleaning regularly. Same is true for email accounts.

For those of you who tend to make frequent use of your smartphones to take photos and videos, these are a common source of garbage file accumulation.

No cleanup suggestion would be complete without mentioning the need to back up important files from all device types. Eliminating unneeded files requires taking the step of deciding WHAT IS wanted or needed to put into the "Keep" category. When those are identified, ask yourself again, are these files I wouldn't want to lose? If Yes, back them up, using whichever of the multiple ways available to do so. If the file you think you want to save doesn't get a yes vote, then there's no need to keep it.

No, there's nobody here accessing my system, but there are periodic MS updates. Stuff like that is invasive enough IMO. As for thumb-drive experimentation, I found that confusing.
I decided to make another screenshot (worth a million of my replies):
Here it is:

I see why you worry but you should not. Adobe Reader will not allow delete/remove entries or files from the Recent File list.

If you delete pdf file (using File Manger or per my illustration earlier) from your pc or if you move it to a different folder on your pc, the file would not open when you click on it from the Recent File list. As mentioned by Lindsey, the Recent File list are just shortcuts, indicating the locations of where the files were last opened.

The Recent File list has a limited number of entries that you can see. As you keep open new files, the last entry just drops off the list/disappears.

What Lindsey said, plus this:

Your at the wrong point in File Manager. Go lower under to under This PC to where it says "Local Disk C" and left click on that.

The folder tree will appear on the right side. Double click on the folder where the files concerned are located. Then proceed as explained above.

I think you would benefit from working on basic PC skills. Consider any of several approaches- whether that be a community class, or getting a book like PCs for Dummies, or something similar. More information and familiarity will enhance your PC usage and eliminate any challenges you face.

File manipulation, utility tools like File Manager, and other similar things are essential for any PC user to understand and know how to use. This operation that you find perplexing is really pretty basic and should not be puzzling. PCs are flexible and easy to use but just like anything else, how to accomplish various tasks or operations on a PC is something to learn, not something that's necessarily going to be obvious to do. Imagine a non-driver thinking they can get into a car and drive away without having had advance learning and training. A PC is similar in nature and no more complicated. Skills needed for usage need to be learned before they're needed.

Good luck.

I open .pdfs nearly every day.

Lindsay CA:

OK, i guess this thread should be considered resolved, because now i see there's no way to delete PDF's via Reader, rather its just a recent-files list.

BTW, eight posts above, you said i should follow the steps that others have already provided that tell how to delete files.

So Elmer & Lars have been mentioning file explorer.

So i went ahead & searched for explorer in my task-manager search-box.

Which was the screenshot i posted above, with the purple redaction bars.

P.S. I looked at the folder tree in the C drive, and clueless where the PDFs are (within the tree). I do know that some of my PDFs are in a folder i created on my desktop, and more are in downloads-folder.

Again, in your purple-redacted screenshot of File Explorer, you are trying to delete from the RECENT FILES SHORTCUT LIST. What you need to do is look at the very far left column in that screebshot — see where it says ”This PC” halfway down? Under that you will see ”Documents” and ”Local Disk (C:)” — either one of those should lead you to the location of the files you want to delete. But you are being unreasonably paranoid if you want to delete files because Microsoft provides software and/or system updates from time to time. Those updates do not peer into or take info from your files. Don’t you have an antivirus program and firewall installed? You should. And if you keep those updated, your files should be safe from humans who try to hack their way in.

Lindsey, did you see my P.S. above your recent post? Of course i went to This PC, then the C-drive.

Anyway again, consider this thread resolved, as stated.