remove shortcut arrows on icons windows 10remove shortcut arrows on icons windows 10

Thank you. 8. Too bad MS dosen't have a current version of the MS Powertoy Tweak UI for W10 to expidite this process. Editorial Director for How-To Geek and its sister sites. Its pretty easy to do. Give it a name that suits you or add the current date and save. Save it to the C:\Program Files (x86)\BTI Software House\ShortcutArrow Changer folder. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android. It was ok after the first or second restart, but then i just got black squares on all shortcuts in the desktop. Its the easiest way to get rid of the arrow overlay. Donot define the string value. No matter what method you use, you should be able to get exactly the icons you want with minimal fuss. read my comment above. I'm with you here. I leave them the way they are. It seems like your suggestion doesn't works on Windows 10 (no mutter 32 or 64 bit). Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press Win.2-Type reged. Please update the article with this information! Just changes a behaviour. Double-click "[bti soft] shortcutarrow changer setup" to open the installers window. After sucessful registry no shortcut lnk but blank black boxes in that places after sometimeSo everytime i had to restart explorer.exe. I never cared about arrows, but I might do this :), I keep my desktop empty except recycle bin. However, creating a shortcut also creates an arrow overlay on the icon. So I leave em. Open Regedit Open Run Command by pressing Windows Key + R and Type regedit.exe. I always do that. So, lets see how to remove the shortcut arrow overlay on Windows. To remove the shortcut arrow icon overlay, we need to edit the registry. This is not working for me, may it be I am on 64-bit OS? That's it. Double click to bring up value data. you know add in red "at your own risk" think, but that should also make it better for the users if they must use registry editor for some tip you give. Haha. Click the small right-pointing arrow icon next to "SOFTWARE." Idon't mind using registry sinceI use Regmagik which is really good. Aside from removing the arrow overlays, you can also change them to more appealing ones by selecting ShortcutArrow Changers Custom shortcut icon option. 2. That is it. Sleeker, more powerful, and redesigned check out the new Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga. Drag Modern apps from the app list to the desktop for a surprise. If youve never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. But was one of the best ways to force my dad to let me clean install 7(his previous install was full of registry problems he created trying to move software to other drives , not uninstalling properly) for the w10 upgrade, Don't need to log out. Choose an alternative icon there, click Open, and press the Apply button. Instead, we are going to show you how to do it the nitty gritty way through the registry. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. :) I don't use the desktop anymore for app shortcuts. A hack implies that you broke some defence/barrier that was preventing you from doing something. I have Win10 Pro, ver2004, Build 19041.572. Tap Yes, when prompted Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your PC? You might already have a subkey named Shell Icons. If you are someone who does not even want to see the shortcut icon with the shortcut files, folders, and programs, then you can remove it too. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You don't need an extra app and it doesn't take a lot of time. I hope its not like death pixels ones you notice them its Impossible not to see them ;-) and they bug you to death! You can also check the box at the bottom, which will remove the word " shortcut " when you create new shortcuts on the desktop. Do not do this if you have updated to Windows 10 20H2 which was released in Oct 2020. You can show/hide the assorted system icons on the desktop from the Control Panel. Click Continue when prompted. He writes about things he believes are actually helpful in some way to the user. 2) Download and merge the .reg file for the lnk item in the table in option 2 of the tutorial below. Windows 10 is no different. They'd see that Google Chrome shortcut on your desktop and think they've uninstalled it by dragging it in the Recycle Bin (which is what everyone should do with their Chrome shortcuts). You can restore the shortcut arrows at any time. Windows has always been about the freedom to mess with whatever your heart desires. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors.". It's mostly just a legacy from the days when Windows had a useful desktop metaphor, where real-world objects represented computer functions. Thanks a lot Dan for this great hack. Someone who sees his desktop regularly and hates the little arrows would obviously be making a different calculation. Just sign out and sign back in. I always hated them, never thought there was something I could do about them. Does it creates any problem? The registry tree you provided it's true. The desktop folder will still be accessible in Explorer. Not even my recycle bin I have on my desktop. I downloaded an old program I had used in Windows 7 that allowed me to control the Content Menu. The button will now be named Restore Shortcut Arrows To Shortcut Icons.. If you ever want to revert, simply delete the 29 value you created in Step 6, and you are good to go. Thanks. what this article teaches is a shameless hack. I have this problem too. If you want to see the changes right away choose Restart Explorer. How to Add Icons to the Desktop in Windows 11, MakeUseOf MWC Awards 2023: The Best Tech in Show. If you have the October 2020 Windows update, version 20H2, this method will not work and there are currently no workarounds to remove these shortcut arrows from app icons. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Click the small right-pointing arrow icon next to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE." Oh that's much better. i had to clean install windws 8, now i am using windows 8. I hate those arrows. There are many ways and the easiest two ways are listed below. There is just something about making an otherwise nice desktop icon busier with those arrow overlays. If I see the arrow I know I can toast it and not lose an app. Even though the arrows are smaller than in some previous versions of Windows, they arent terribly attractive. 3. These hacks are really just the Shell Icon key we described above, exported to a .REG file. Yay! 2. If you have updated Windows 10 since Oct 2020, there are no ways currently to remove shortcut arrows. Since the days of Windows 95 whenever you placed a shortcut on the desktop for app or document, an arrow is placed on the lower corner of the icon. In the Value data box enter C:\Windows\system32\BlankIcon.ico or the path where you saved your Blank Icon. :-). Read also: What Is the Windows Registry and How Do I Edit It? Wow you can do anything to Windows through the registry. For anyone looking for a solution with a simple click, this is the way to go. Due to security reasons, we are not posting or linking some home-made .exe files that people have created to automate this task. I hide all my icons I like a clean desktop This doesn't break anything. No wonder why some people have alot of duplicates and fragmented files caused by dumping every thing on their desktop. Yea,actually this tweak is not like in other builds of Win7 and Xp. . Afterwards, you should have a nice, clean desktop with no arrow shortcuts. How to Remove Shortcut Arrow Overlay on Windows 10, How to Center Taskbar Icons in Windows 10, How to Fix Boot Manager Is Missing in Windows 10, How to See Saved Items on Facebook Marketplace, How to Get Microsoft Teams Status Change Notifications. I hate how when I plug in a Bitlocker-protected external drive, the W10 notification category says "Calculator". Next, select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer within the Registry Editor's left navigation pane. . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Then you can select to add your downloaded arrow to shortcut icons with ShortcutArrow Changer. Then Right Click on the Shell Icon folder that we made or in the empty space inside the folder. Click regedit and click Yes. Of course, you could go more advanced and define your own shortcut arrows or even change your system icons, but that is for another day. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 12. Since you are wanting to restore the default shortcut arrows, see if this below may be able to. Press Enter Select the new Key in the Left Pane In the right pane right click on an empty area, and click/tap on New and String Value. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. One of the best is Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 for Windows 10. well, it didn't work for me. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. It might be slightly simpler to remove arrows from desktop shortcut icons with third-party customization software. For stuff I use frequently I put on the taskbar and for stuff I use less (or has live tiles) goes in the start menu. Removing the shortcut icon is something people like to have a cleaner Desktop, and it's easy to do. The concept and implementation works for me. This thread is locked. Icons on the desktop are like putting your cloths in the living room. Select the Shortcut arrow and choose No Arrow. I just explained it in detail for those new to the registry. Nice article but step 8 is incorrect. Performance & security by Cloudflare. However, I think it behooves people to learn what they can do on their own. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. % of people told us that this article helped them. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Now go ahead and log off your computer and log . The little white arrows on shortcut icons can really mess up your aesthetic. Double-click the 29 entry to modify it. Yeah I can agree. OP should revise his post so that people stop running into this problem. Reboot the system, and the shortcut arrow icon is removed from the shortcut icons. Tools like this offer lots of tweaking options, so our advice is to go slow. Howdy do and a big THANK YOU! Youll need to restart your computer (or log off and back on) to see the changes. omg thank you , really needed this . This is very helpful to restore the registry to the original state. All MS needs to do is allow pinning small livetiles (at the minimum) to the desktop and we can get rid off all of these hotchpotch, ancient app icons and shortcuts altogether. That was so easy and it definitely worked, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It's several revisions old, but still fun. You have a taskbar and a start menu. Lol jk. This article has been viewed 61,054 times. A lot of homework to do! Navigate to and open the folder that includes the ShortcutArrow Changer setup file. 1) Delete the 29 string value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons key. Click once and press restart or reboot the computer or log off and on to complete the task. To open Run, press its designated Win + R keyboard shortcut. Are they the black squares I'm also experiencing right now? The start menu does it all. Its pretty quick and easy to remove the icon arrows with either of the methods above. Honestly, it's not any work either, I just put a lot of detail so no one makes a mistake ;). Is there a way to just link the iTunes icon rather than the folder? U can delete the key to go back. To do the same in older versions of Windows, load up Task Manager, find "explorer.exe," select "End Process," and then restart it manually by choosing Create New Task, typing "explorer" and striking return. If you don't like using the registry just use, But then how do you know what's a shortcut and what isn't at a glance? Click to reveal It's like the registry has no limit to it's reach throughout the OS. But when I tried your string for the Both systems have windows 10 and are fully up to date. Step 4: Name the new subkey "Shell Icons". Right click on \Explorer and using the dialog menu choose New > Key and name it Shell Icons. 7. It no longer works after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. We select and review products independently. That is it. Definitely keeping this in mind just in case "We just do not install apps to the desktop, so I am unsure why I need to be reminded 'hey, this is a shortcut, not the real app'". When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. there is no icon so nothing wrong with it like with the way shown on the article. Paste "%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50" in the Value Data field and click OK. 209.236.71.63 Life is good again, Hi Emi, In the Value Data box, copy and paste the following: Click OK and exit Registry Editor . All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Did it work? If you are not comfortable editing the registry, you can automate things with a .reg file. The backup helps you restore the system if anything terrible happens. This caused my destop icons to start showing up all black!!! Choose one of the four options from the list and click Apply. Just use this string for the value on the 29 key you created: Then, once again, close Registry Editor and restart your computer to see the changes. Shortcuts are an easy way to open any application quickly. We just do not install apps to the desktop, so I am unsure why I need to be reminded "hey, this is a shortcut, not the real app". Now, if they could just fix that annoying "Unspecified Error" in Explorer.exe - I'd be extremely happy! The program was called Easy Content Menu (v1.6 from 2015) I ran the program to adjust some of my Content Menu settings, then discovered that in the menu under Extras I could select Remove Shortcut Arrows. Proceed with caution. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published References (1) Type in regedit into the Cortana/search box and (2) select regedit at the top, When prompted Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your PC? I am so glad we have a start menu so i can pin my apps, they are so much better to look at. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Go one step further and don't have desktop icons at all! Now it looks like some robot took a square bite out of my icon :/ My icon sizes are larger if that makes any differences. I've just simply after a system reboot, I met no arrows, BUT all desktop icons turned into black squares! I hate desktop icons so much that I just remove them completely. Open Start Menu and search for Registry Editor Tap Yes, when prompted " Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your PC? The taskbar is always visible, the desktop isn't. Research says that the "fix" may not work in newer versions of Win10. The registry is one big database of configuration settings for Windows. That's why Windows actually warns you that simply deleting a shortcut won't delete the program. Way 2: Open Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R, type regedit, and click OK. Yet for me, it's my biggest nuisance. thx, This stumped me for a while, go to step 4 and simply delete the 29 file leaving the default one. 20 years as a technical writer and editor. RELATED: How to Make Your Own Windows Registry Hacks. Some users might prefer to remove those arrows from desktop shortcut icons. It takes up more than 75% of the icon, It has this giant black box when I first start up my computer, Then after an hour or so themysterious black box shows up again, but it stays there this time. 7. I want a clean desktop so i can see the background photo clear and clean. Type the regedit Run command in the Open box. This string effectively removes the Windows. Double-click the new 29 value and type (or copy and paste) the following into the Value data box to remove arrows from shortcut icons: Click OK and exit Registry Editor. I'm actually a little surprised that people still seem to be using those icons so much, with pinned apps on the taskbar and the recently used lists from office etc, I simply never need those icons. Hot tip: You can also restart explorer.exe / end task then run explorer via run to have the changes to take effect. Please signup for the WindowsLoop newsletter by clicking the following link: WindowsLoop Newsletter Signup. Ultimate Windows Tweaker automatically creates a system restore point for you when it starts, but if youre concerned about a tweak go ahead and back up your computer first. Cool trick. 2. Is there a reason the method you described would be preferred? I never understand why people put icons, not to mention folders on their desktop, it makes it so ugly and chacka chacka ( untidy ). By having to change the registry just to make some cosmetic changes to the OS, I feel that Microsoft don't want people to be able to do that, even though they are not explicitly denying the possibility. There are a few easy ways to tackle this problem. If you ever change your mind, open the Registry Editor, go to the below location and delete the 29 value. I'm guessing you're Jamaican? And definitely back up the Registry(and your computer!) Better to leave it or delete the key and wait for something that works. and is everything ok on your side? This is the Icon we will use to remove the shortcut arrow icon in Windows 10 and 11. Right-click the Shell Icons folder icon and choose New > String Value. Finally, confirm with "OK" and . 10. That might sound a little daunting, but a pretty straightforward registry tweak is all thats needed. Also read How to Fix Boot Manager Is Missing in Windows 10. Let's see how to do it. In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebarto navigate to the following key: Look through the Explorer key and see iftheres a subkey named Shell Icons. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Remove-Shortcut-Arrows-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Shortcut-Arrows-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Remove-Shortcut-Arrows-Step-1.jpg\/aid11836538-v4-728px-Remove-Shortcut-Arrows-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"