Resent Items reverts to zero

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Level 1

107 points

Resent Items reverts to zero

OS X version 10.11.6, iMac Late 2009 20.5-inch.

In System Preferences > General, Recent Items shows zero. I can change it to whatever, such as 50. That modifies four preference files: com.apple.systempreferences.plist, com.apple.xpc.activity2.plist, com.apple.systempreferences.plist.Bv50Mc0 (name varies and it self-deletes in a fraction of a second - I made a screen recording to get the file name – never found later by Spotlight), and By Host > com.apple.loginwindow.2CB41E66-5662-5609-9251-8F41D704E218.plist (name varies). I can delete all but the self-deleting file, but it makes no difference. System Preferences will not even reset to default, which I remember being 10 items.

Recent Items is not shown under the Apple menu at all. Apps show "Open Recent > and greyed: "Clear Menu" only.

Disk Utility for the startup volume shows "The volume appears to be OK".

Do I need to use Pacifist to replace the System Preferences app or is there yet another preference file hidden someplace?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Nov 11, 2017 5:19 PM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,588 points

Nov 12, 2017 9:36 PM in response to Moof666

When some documents , downloads etc

folders are opened the setting will show like this .

If you click on clear menu , the data is cleared and recent folders is greyed .

In your system don't delete at random plist by your own , it will corrupt system preferences and Operating system .

Open user library macOS Sierra: Library folder

Find a folder preferences drag and drop com.apple.preferences.general.plist to the desktop , restart the machine see if it helps .

Note this plist was viewed in Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.1 , in your case verify the plist exists as the extensions for plist could be slightly different as you are using Mac OSX EL - Capitan 10.11.6

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Answer 2

Moof666 Author

Level 1

107 points

Nov 16, 2017 10:00 AM in response to tygb

com.apple.preferences.general.plist was the culprit, and as always, no restart was needed. Removing .plist files cannot ever corrupt system preferences and operating system. Every app that has options will automatically create a default .plist file for itself after the previous one is removed.

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Answer 3

Moof666 Author

Level 1

107 points

Nov 12, 2017 7:44 PM in response to tygb

OMG, you people drive me MAD!!!!! Of course it works fine in another user account!!! I am asking for a solution in this user account. If you have no idea which preference file holds the solution, just bugger off!!!!

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Answer 4

tygb

Level 9

64,588 points

Nov 11, 2017 6:21 PM in response to Moof666

Test in new user account How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Nov 11, 2017 7:28 PM in response to Moof666

Have you tried restarting after deleting the .plists? The OS caches the preferences and without a restart, the effects of deleting a 'plist won't show.

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Answer 6

Moof666 Author

Level 1

107 points

Nov 12, 2017 7:22 PM in response to Eric Root

Do you think plist files in the trash are not immediately replaced by default plist files? If so, you are among the 1% who do not know OS X. There is no caching of plist file!

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Answer 7

Moof666 Author

Level 1

107 points

Nov 16, 2017 10:01 AM in response to Moof666

Oops, I clicked the wrong "Solved" button, and the forum has no option to change that.

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