Unable to remove/hide icons from desktop folder

Question

I wish to hide some windows icons from my desktop folder¹, but cannot. When I click delete, it says they will be deleted from my desktop (which they already are), but they remain visible in the desktop folder, which is where I wish them removed. Is there any way I can remove these? (I always use Win+E which really lets me get to all of these easy enough).

Offending icons: Libraries, Homegroup, User folder, Computer, Network, Control Panel, and Recycle Bin.

For those who might be wondering why, I find myself in this folder a bit to often (including when uploading a file), and find these nothing but clutter, especially as these always default to the top.

Thanks for your help!

¹ By desktop folder, I mean the folder you would see by going to "My Computer" and clicking "Desktop" on the top left under Favorites.

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Note: Changing my "Desktop Icon Settings" under "Personalize" does not affect the desktop folder, but rather just the desktop view.

Answer 1

You can remove 3 of them by deleting some registry keys.

• Open regedit.exe
• Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFWARE\Microsoft\Wind ows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\
• Remove the following folders corresponding to each icon:
  • Homegroup : {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} (default item has the value 'Other Users')
  • Network : {F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C} (default item has the value 'Computers and Devices')
  • Libraries : {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} (default item has the value 'UserLibraries')

I have tested this on my PC and it worked. However, These icons will get removed from the Explorer navigation panel also.

Source

Answer 2

The Desktop folder you're opening is a virtual folder. It doesn't surprise me that you can't delete these items.

If they annoy you so much, just remove the Desktop shortcut from the Favorites and place a new shortcut there, which points to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop. This one will only show your actual files on the Desktop.

There's something really interesting happening with that shortcut though. If I change the icon of that shortcut to the icon of the original Desktop shortcut, it will behave just like it.

In case this doesn't behave as expected, Bob pointed out that you could also create a new library and add your profile's desktop folder into it. Additionally, you could add the Desktop folder for all users (C:\Users\Public\Desktop).

This also has the benefit that you could include even more folders that contain a selection of shortcuts you might want to have as well (like the Network view).

Answer 3

The following worked for me on Windows 8 x64:

1. Delete the Desktop shortcut from favorites.
2. Add Desktop again to favorites. That shortcut will still show the unwanted icons.
3. Rightclick the shortcut -> Properties -> Change icon.
4. Select a different icon or the same, doesn't matter. Press Ok.
5. Press Ok in the Properties dialog. The Desktop shortcut no longer shows the unwanted icons.

Interestingly, if you repeat steps 3-5 the shortcut will revert to its original behavior.

Answer 4

You should try revoking all access from your user profile(incase you are a admin user you may create another user)

Just go to C:\Users{Your profile}\

Right click the desktop folder, select properties and go to "security" tab

Remove the permission to read, they should become invisible.

Answer 5

If the icons are removed (after deletion) from desktop view but they remain in Desktop folder visible from Explorer: 1. you can try to remove them from Public\Desktop folder (C:\Users\Public\Desktop), 2. or you won't be able to remove them from this folder - they are system icons (would need to edit registry but I don't guarantee success).