I don't treat my desktop as if it is a folder to store things. It's like spilling wine on a very nice collared shirt. So, download this zip file, open it, and extract the folder in it to the root of your C drive. There must be a way to achieve this within Windows without having to resort to using non-microsoft software. Youll be prompted to Restart the Explorer. I just never knew you could change something so miniscule as the arrow on an icon. It feels like storing stuff you use a lot under your bed instead of on your desk or shelf or cabinet. Hey this is a nice tip, I don't have problem with those arrows actually but it's kinda neat to see shortcuts without them, thanks Dan! However, I think it behooves people to learn what they can do on their own. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I don't like the arrows either. This wikiHow will teach you how to remove shortcut arrows on your Windows shortcut icon by changing a few things in the Registry Editor. :-). You are the man. 2. the registry is like a huge list where the OS stores all it's constants' values, so if you change anything the system will assume that new value as true and trust it, even if it ends up being rubbish, so you can do a good mess if you want. Do let me know in the comment section below. Extract the BlankIcon folder to the root of the C drive. You can also use the Registry to bring back the oversized arrow from the Windows Vista days, just in case you like really ugly things. Now ,perfect and clean my pc desktop. Click Continue when prompted. Manage Settings i'm sure he must have received complaints thats why this time it is there now. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If Microsoft didn't want people to be able to do these things, they wouldn't make registry so easily accessible. OP should revise his post so that people stop running into this problem. This "how to" is not a PRO stuff but without stating BACKUP warning you show that you arent any pro either. He's also written hundreds of white papers, articles, user manuals, and courseware over the years. Seeing program shortcuts with or without the error is "YUCK". I agree that the indication comes to rescue by differentiating it from the original file but aesthetics, as some would say, is also a real thing. As I mentioned, there are plenty of apps that do this. Or at least put the damn arrow back into the icon. No matter what method you use, you should be able to get exactly the icons you want with minimal fuss. If you dont like it, heres how to remove the shortcut arrow from shortcut icons in Windows 10 and 11. I had the same issue, I'm going to attempt to change the black squares to transparent ones. And recently I got one amazing method that can change the arrows on the shortcut icon in the Windows 10. There are a few easy ways to tackle this problem. Use ICO image file to hide the Arrow: NY 10036. You should see a blank box called Value data. It's an age where options are being removed for the sake of simplicity, and that is bad in my view. Removing those little arrows requires a tweak to the Windows Registry, but there are a few different ways of going about it. Right click on the Windows 10 Start Menu goes away. Windows 11/10 doesnt include any built-in option with which you can disable shortcut icon arrows. * like for example groove Music or VLC fom store wont play any song and in error i clearly stated something wrong with registry. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. He's authored or co-authored over 30 computer-related books in more than a dozen languages for publishers like Microsoft Press, O'Reilly, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. it displays an icon with a arrow which l don't like and want to remove those arrows so that l can have only that icon on desktop without the arrow. How do I fix this? Just to update, the solution with the folder AVG only works if you have AVG on your computer. In the left Pane expand Explorer and right click on it , choose New - Key and name it Shell Icons. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes! Everything worked just fine but after a second shut down it just shows a blank black space instead. It's several revisions old, but still fun. But try deleting the value that you put in step 7 and everything should be fine. Next, youre going to create a new value inside the Shell Icons key. That is what the desktop should be used for not just for a pretty picture. You can now either reboot the computer or log off and on back again to complete the changes. Here, we need to create a new folder. 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. This string effectively removes the Windows. 4. The icons include those arrows to highlight that theyre shortcuts for software and files. After that, double-click on the extracted file. Remove shortcut icons arrow in any windows 10 PC. Then you can select to add your downloaded arrow to shortcut icons with ShortcutArrow Changer. I never cared about arrows, but I might do this :), I keep my desktop empty except recycle bin. Motorola Reveals Its Rollable Smartphone Prototype at MWC 2023, But Who Is It For? Is there a reason the method you described would be preferred? What Is the Windows Registry and How Do I Edit It? 2 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor. I have this problem too. In the "Value Data" box, enter the following text: %windir%System32shell32.dll,-50 Click OK to save the change and close the "Edit String" window. Double click/tap on the 29 String Value to modify it. What other visual cue does it have to tell you it's a shortcut? He doesn't believe in fanboying a specific product. Steps of How To Remove Shortcut Arrows In Windows 10 Without Software 1. Wow you can do anything to Windows through the registry. 3. RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT DO THIS REGISTRY CHANGE. Open the start menu, search for Registry Editor, and click the result to open the Registry Editor. But when I tried your string for the I store all of my apps and such in the Start Menu but I have a backup of my music on my desktop and computer guff like Command Prompt and Notepad on the Desktop. Afterwards, you should have a nice, clean desktop with no arrow shortcuts. Remove Shortcut Arrow Overlay on Windows 10 1. If you dont feel like diving into the Registry yourself, weve created some downloadable registry hacks you can use. Now I have a black box in place of arrows. Thank you. 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. Before editing the registry, make a registry backup. 5. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 8. Research says that the "fix" may not work in newer versions of Win10. Youre always taking a small risk when you use system tweaking tools like this. how to remove shortcut arrow from desktop iconssteps1-Open Start. I have tried what you advise, however it just makes the wwhole icon disapear. So, here were was how to remove the arrow shortcut overlay on Windows. I restarted explorer.exe and computer to check and everything was alright zoom it and zoom out icons. If you ever change your mind, open the Registry Editor, go to the below location and delete the 29 value. Your IP: Now there's just the name and no icon on my desktop. 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). 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. Way 2: Open Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R, type regedit, and click OK. A hack is way around the intended process of the program. It should be noted that those little arrows actually have a purpose; they differentiate shortcuts (which can safely be deleted) with the app itself (which will make you sad if deleted). it is obviously easier to access a shortcut from the desktop rather than searching through menus. You dont need an extra app and it doesnt take a lot of time. I always here that it's dangerous I believe it but I also think you should learn how to use it. Guns are dangerous but you can learn to use them so you don't shoot yourself or someone by accident. How to remove shortcut arrows in Windows 10 1. When you are . So the true String Value according (the since pre-AVG's ownership of. I had larger icons too and had same problem, a bite square on icon :D This easy step by step guide shows you how to get rid of them! I run some apps that do not install and just run from a .exe. You can either shrink the arrow size for the arrow shortcuts or remove them altogether from your icons. Step 6: Name the new value as "29". Seems silly to me to install an app for something that takes < 5 minutes and for which you will likely never use again. Due to security reasons, we are not posting or linking some home-made .exe files that people have created to automate this task. Incorrect. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors.". 3. And I'm happy, Cool! Answer yes When prompted Do you want to. It's a small detail, but a very thoughtful one. Yeah I can agree. Hover your mouse over New and click Key and name it "Shell Icons." 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. 5. It might be slightly simpler to remove arrows from desktop shortcut icons with third-party customization software. If you attempt this method and get either transparent, black, or white boxes, you'll want to restore a backup of the Registry that you made. I hate how when I plug in a Bitlocker-protected external drive, the W10 notification category says "Calculator". However, editing the Registry is risky since a single typo can corrupt your computer files and cause it to stop working, so you should make a backup before attempting anything. Jack has been a freelance tech journalist for more than a decade. He has covered Windows Vista, 7, 10, and 11 topics within a multitude of guides for MakeUseOf and numerous other websites. All Rights Reserved. ShortcutArrow Changer is a freeware customization app that enables users to remove the shortcut icon arrows in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Saves the convienence of logging in and out or restarting your computer. omg thank you , really needed this . -- jim. Why don't you give a .reg file? Then Right Click on the Shell Icon folder that we made or in the empty space inside the folder. Open Regedit Open Run Command by pressing Windows Key + R and Type regedit.exe. For Windows 7, youll need UWT 2.2. If anyone knows a fix to this or has another way I can get rid of this black box and the shortcut arrow please tell me because I'm at a loss. I know its just an indicator of the icon being a shortcut but Id rather have a clean looking icon rather than a small overlay. 7. Very strange, especially because both systems have near identical settings. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Or if you have any questions, you can always count on our Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central for more help. So, lets see how to remove the shortcut arrow overlay on Windows. Thanks Daniel. Name it 29. To remove arrows from shortcut icons with Ultimate Windows Tweaker, choose the Customization section on the left, click the File Explorer tab, and then click Remove Shortcut Arrows From Shortcut Icons. To put them back, follow the same process. I removed all the icons on my desktop and put some of my favorite apps on the taskbar. Since you are wanting to restore the default shortcut arrows, see if this below may be able to. 11. Most apps that rely on the registry are designed to ignore bad values or use defaults. Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes AIO Repack, 9. Restart your computer. The desktop has to be free of icons or it will bug the crap out of me. Somehow no one seems to know this, but any time a change requires you to "log out and in again," you can actually just restart exploer.exe to achieve the same result. Please help and I will be waiting for your kind reply. Lets see how to do it. Next, select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer within the Registry Editor's left navigation pane. Sit in the library in the mornings before school finishing off any work, Yeah we've come along way I remember having to use login studio to skin vista whereas 7 had the option to do that. Anyway to eacht their own. I'm leaving my work incomplete! That being, the arrow icon over the shortcut can look ugly at times. If I see the arrow I know I can toast it and not lose an app. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. I leave them the way they are. all what i got after following these steps were black empty boxes instead of the arrow shortcuts. Name the New Folder as Shell Icons. I get a white rectangle over some of my icons with this "fix". Clear instructions are presented in this article so I don't think the danger is that great, as long as you are able to follow instructions. Aside from removing the arrow overlays, you can also change them to more appealing ones by selecting ShortcutArrow Changers Custom shortcut icon option. Readers like you help support MUO. DELETE VALUE DATA! [don't have W10 yet]. Generally, the arrow icon overlay on a shortcut icon helps you differentiate between a file or application and a shortcut at a glance. 2) Download and merge the .reg file for the lnk item in the table in option 2 of the tutorial below. Do you have something easier? I never understand why people put icons, not to mention folders on their desktop, it makes it so ugly and chacka chacka ( untidy ). There's that app WinAero shortcut editor that does the same. When you make an icon on your Windows desktop, you'll see an arrow over it that represents that you've created a shortcut. Also since the days of Windows 95 there have been third-party apps to get rid of these arrows. 8. Time to use this technique to remedy that! Thanks a million Daniel. Choose an alternative icon there, click Open, and press the Apply button. . Lol at chacka chacka. Now restart the PC or log off and in again to youll see the required changes. I always hated them, never thought there was something I could do about them. With the most recent Windows 10 update, this method no longer works and no fix has been discovered. So going back to the Windows 95 days, I've always used the method of renaming the 'IsShortcut' string value under HKCR\lnkfile. He's written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and edited thousands. Let's see how to do it. If you attempt this method and get either transparent, black, or white boxes, you'll want to restore a backup of the Registry that you made. Yet for me, it's my biggest nuisance. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Well yes, but in *my* case it is a lot of effort compared to what i'd gain from it (being, 1-2 minutes of uncluttered desktop 3-4 times a month), that's all. Windows has always been about the freedom to mess with whatever your heart desires. Enter shortcut arrow icon in that websites search box to find more. After installing ShorcutArrow Changer, double-click the desktop shortcut for that software. If you have updated Windows 10 since Oct 2020, there are no ways currently to remove shortcut arrows. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. Some users might prefer to remove those arrows from desktop shortcut icons. Step 1: Press Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box. Join 425,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. Yes, most apps won't appear on the desktop, but some of the smaller all-in-one apps like file archivers and tag editors can. I had that initally and then it turned transparent, incuding part of the icon. Type the regedit Run command in the Open box. Click regedit and click Yes. I wish I could keep my desktop clean. These hacks are really just the Shell Icon key we described above, exported to a .REG file. Didn't read the article properly! Theyre huge and kind of ugly, but there would be no mistaking which icons were shortcuts. Anyway, OCD person's nightmare. ;), If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?. Paste "%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50" in the Value Data field and click OK. Today when I powered up my laptop, the arrow thingy was replaced by a black square. Copy or move blank.ico to your C:\Windows folder. Not even my recycle bin I have on my desktop. Type or copy-paste HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer in given space in Registry Editor. I've heard, but have never seen for myself issue from doing this. 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. Next, extract the remove_shortcut_arrow_icon.reg file. Name it 29. Not a good hack! Still, you are touching the registry so make sure you have backed up your PC just in case if you feel uncomfortable. For now, if you want a purer desktop with less clutter, just take the five minutes and make this registry change! Game-Changing AI for the DIY Industry: GPT-4 Is Coming, The 8 Most Accurate AI Text Detectors You Can Try, Right-click a space within the right pane to select. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons 29 REG_SZ Just clean icons! An example, iTunes. Please can anybody advice on how to fix this. WTF?? I mean, the whole reason for the start menu to return is habit. You don't need an extra app and it doesn't take a lot of time. Right-click Explorer on the left of the Registry Editor to select New . Vaibhav is a broadcast journalist with a keen interest in tech. Now copy and paste the value below in the Value Data fieldand hit Ok. Voila, its done. 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. No clear pattern with changes occuring often after rebooting, but sometimes after running applications. East or West Daniel is the best. I just did this on Windows server 2008 R2. If you really want a clean desktop, just hide the icons! Go one step further and don't have desktop icons at all! Just double-click the one you want to use, click through the prompts, and then restart your computer (or log off and back on). remove desktop shortcut icons with arrows whenever l install a new application on the computer. Same thing happened to me. As an added precaution, create a system restore point too. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a11d38e9f2dcab5 Tried this - on my machines the shortcuts disappeared - but were replaced by a square black box ! In case you do not know what I am referring to let me explain. For more resources, don't forget to check our Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks page. To do so, reopen the Registry Editor, right-click the 29 string for the Shell Icons key, and select the Delete option. If you ever want to revert, simply delete the 29 value you created in Step 6, and you are good to go. It no longer works after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. That's what I do too, but this is a nice tutorial. By using our site, you agree to our. If you want to undo your edits, delete the file in your Registry called "29". 4. Both ways will work fluently. This did absolutely nothingto get rid ofmy shortcut arrows. This is the Icon we will use to remove the shortcut arrow icon in Windows 10 and 11. I appreciate you sharing. It got rid of the arrows, but now I've got little square "holes" in all my shortcuts where the arrows used to beOnly on anything bigger than a "medium icon". Cheers anyway (-: Lenovo's Surface-like IdeaPad Duet 3i packs the Intel N-series CPU but you won't find it in the US, Lenovo's new ThinkPad Z13 features a woven Flax cover made from plant fibers, Lenovo ditches old haptic touchpad tech for Sensels FusionUX stack heres why its a big deal. I always knew you could edit things in the registry and have done so many times before. And make win. Just createthe string valuename it 29 and leave the value datablank. Depends. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The little white arrows on shortcut icons can really mess up your aesthetic. As most of the icons on your desktop will likely be shortcuts, however, those arrows are hardly essential. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. please send us a fix, Skip step 7. Your IP: So for that click the new 29 value and type the text given below into the "Value data" box and this would remove arrows from shortcut icons- %windir . Right click on the Desktop, Choose. Thanks. Thanks. Seriously I hate those arrows too no idea why :P. My number one complaint is that certain apps pinned to the taskbar clone themselves when you open them. Too bad MS dosen't have a current version of the MS Powertoy Tweak UI for W10 to expidite this process. If you have updated Windows 10 since Oct 2020, there are no ways currently to remove shortcut arrows. How to Remove Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 10 & 11, Download registry file to remove arrow icon. These methods should work in Windows 7, 8, and 10. But hey that's why options are a good thing right. At least you can now uninstall from the new Start Menu directly. ;). In the registry editor, copy the below path, paste it in the address bar, and press "Enter." Registry Editor takes you to the target folder immediately. I'd say it's because most users probably don't understand that. 13. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for the tip, Daniel. Truth be told, it is super simple and should take no more than 5 minutes.

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