Both ways will work fluently. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Here is the tutorial on how to remove shortcut arrow Windows 10. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 61,054 times. Click Continue when prompted. I run some apps that do not install and just run from a .exe. This article has been viewed 61,054 times. Do not do this if you have updated to Windows 10 20H2 which was released in Oct 2020. Thank you. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Vaibhav is a broadcast journalist with a keen interest in tech. Scroll all the way down to Windows Explorer. Next, select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer within the Registry Editor's left navigation pane. Thanks for the tip, Daniel. Now copy and paste the value below in the Value Data fieldand hit Ok. Voila, its done. 2. I'm leaving my work incomplete! First I'm hearing of that issue. I tried this and while the initial results were good, after a short amount of time I started getting black blocks on my desktop icons, and icons in my Start menu weren't appearing or only partially appearing - had to remove the reg key to fix it. One of the biggest changes in Windows 11 is the placement of the Start Menu on the taskbar. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Go one step further and don't have desktop icons at all! I do that in a roundabout way install CCleaner and pin that to your taskbar. Click the Start Menu icon and search "Regedit" in the search bar. Tools like this offer lots of tweaking options, so our advice is to go slow. 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). Open the application and scroll to the Shortcut tab from the side panel. One thing you have to know is that the names of options may differ, I'm using Skype in Spanish so I translated them to english.. Tried this - on my machines the shortcuts disappeared - but were replaced by a square black box ! If you dont like it, heres how to remove the shortcut arrow from shortcut icons in Windows 10 and 11. You also have another option, if youre so inclined. I'd love to be able to put the Recycle Bin on the Task Bar instead, but I haven't figured out a way to do that. This wikiHow will teach you how to remove shortcut arrows on your Windows shortcut icon by changing a few things in the Registry Editor. This is not working for me, may it be I am on 64-bit OS? Your icons should update immediately. Did anyone experience this? Thanks. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published References Step 1: Press Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box. I did everything detailed in this post. 2 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor. Even though the arrows are smaller than in some previous versions of Windows, they arent terribly attractive. Read also: What Is the Windows Registry and How Do I Edit It? (Don't really need it on the desktop.) You dont need an extra app and it doesnt take a lot of time. Please update the article with this information! RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT DO THIS REGISTRY CHANGE. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android. Sleeker, more powerful, and redesigned check out the new Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga. Still, you are touching the registry so make sure you have backed up your PC just in case if you feel uncomfortable. The taskbar is always visible, the desktop isn't. Wow you can do anything to Windows through the registry. Peace :), Aaaaaaaaand completely ignore that, won't let me delete the comment. Seeing program shortcuts with or without the error is "YUCK". I leave them the way they are. To do so, reopen the Registry Editor, right-click the 29 string for the Shell Icons key, and select the Delete option. What does it do? So, here were was how to remove the arrow shortcut overlay on Windows. Same thing happened to me. I have this problem too. Right click on the Desktop, Choose. Is this just something left over from the Win 95/98 days that people just can't seem to adapt from? I want to make my icons bigger but not sure if I should do this thing.. thanks, I had the stupid black box after little bit and using your advice its gone! In fact, rows of icons just reminds me of iPhones and iPads now. Haha. 4. Completely Uninstall Riot Games (Vanguard and the Riot Games Client), How to Change the Screen Brightness in Windows 10: A Quick Guide, Turn Off Microsoft Defender in Windows 10: Temporarily or Permanently, How to Use Function Keys Without Pressing Fn on Windows 10, How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10: A Quick Guide, How to Eject the CD/DVD Tray on a Windows 10 PC, 2 Quick Ways to Log In as Administrator in Windows 10, https://windowsloop.com/remove-shortcut-arrow-on-shortcuts/, Remover as Flechinhas de Atalhos da rea de Trabalho. If you are not comfortable editing the registry, you can automate things with a .reg file. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. How to remove shortcut arrows in Windows 10 1. Also the wallpaper looks so good without all the junc I see some people put on there. You don't need to Restart. Make sure you watch what you say. no black square after rebooting? Windows 11/10 doesnt include any built-in option with which you can disable shortcut icon arrows. I hide all my icons I like a clean desktop Never the less removing those arrows really makes the icons look better but not like the start menu. With the most recent Windows 10 update, this method no longer works and no fix has been discovered. The button will now be named Restore Shortcut Arrows To Shortcut Icons.. How to Add Icons to the Desktop in Windows 11, MakeUseOf MWC Awards 2023: The Best Tech in Show. Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes AIO Repack, 9. Had to reverse this. Download Remove the Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 10 & 11. It's a small detail, but a very thoughtful one. Customize your desktop screen easy. omg thank you , really needed this . The location / process for changing this in the registry has not changed since XP either. 1) Delete the 29 string value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons key. And any programs go on the taskbar or are accessed in the start menu. Open up regedit (1) Type in regedit into the Cortana/search box and (2) select regedit at the top 2. It worked fine for me on Windows 7-64 and Windows 10-64. I always here that it's dangerous I believe it but I also think you should learn how to use it. ok, I agree it's nice to have the freedom to tweak the system as you desire, and I did a lot of it back in the 98/XP, but since the smartphone boom most new users are too "user" to do this safely. Many many thanks for the article. Name the new file "29" then double-click it. ;). Nice idea, though. Looking for a way to fix it. Control Panel (or Settings) -> type "icons desktop" in the search box -> click/tap Show or hide command icons on the desktop. Visual C++ Runtime Installer (All-In-One), View Essential System Details with myResources, Control When Windows 10 Updates with Kill-Update, How to Fix There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC Error on Windows 10, How to Turn on or off Recommended Troubleshooting in Windows 10, How to Remove the Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 10 & 11, Remove the Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 10 & 11, How to Split Your Screen in Windows 10 & 11, How to Create a Show Desktop Shortcut in Windows 10 & 11, How to Turn the Windows 10 Desktop Background Image On or Off, How to Show Your Windows 10 & 11 Version and Build Number on the Desktop, How to Create Safe Mode Desktop Shortcuts. ShortcutArrow Changer is a freeware customization app that enables users to remove the shortcut icon arrows in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Since you are wanting to restore the default shortcut arrows, see if this below may be able to. Click the small right-pointing arrow icon next to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE." If Microsoft didn't want people to be able to do these things, they wouldn't make registry so easily accessible. Click the small right-pointing arrow icon next to "SOFTWARE." If not, then create a new one by Right-click on the Explorer folder, click New and tap on Key. There are plenty of other things you can do with the application, like adding a custom icon instead of the arrow overlay, using the old classic Windows arrow, change themes, modify start-up sound, etc. Create a live tile or just an icon? 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. The icons include those arrows to highlight that theyre shortcuts for software and files. Step 2: Navigate to the following key in Windows Registry Editor. A hack is way around the intended process of the program. Double-click "[bti soft] shortcutarrow changer setup" to open the installers window. Depends. Paste "%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50" in the Value Data field and click OK. Not a good hack! ;), If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?. Remove Shortcut Arrow Overlay on Windows 10 1. 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". However, I think it behooves people to learn what they can do on their own. I can totally see where you're coming from! He's also written hundreds of white papers, articles, user manuals, and courseware over the years. It seems like your suggestion doesn't works on Windows 10 (no mutter 32 or 64 bit). Instead, we are going to show you how to do it the nitty gritty way through the registry. :-). I have tried what you advise, however it just makes the wwhole icon disapear. However, creating a shortcut also creates an arrow overlay on the icon. I'm guessing you're Jamaican? before making changes. Research says that the "fix" may not work in newer versions of Win10. Type the regedit Run command in the Open box. 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. With the most recent Windows 10 update, this method no longer works and no fix has been discovered. Here, we need to create a new folder. It's great until I reboot and the place where the arrow used to be is just a black square. For now, if you want a purer desktop with less clutter, just take the five minutes and make this registry change! this reg edit does not work in win 10, well it does until you reboot, then you have big black spaces that hide half your icon, looks worse than the shortcut arrows ! Right-click on Explorer and select New> Key. 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. I'd say it's because most users probably don't understand that. Now, youre going to modify that value. Daniel, Too bad MS dosen't have a current version of the MS Powertoy Tweak UI for W10 to expidite this process. Select an arrow to download from there, and click the ICO button. those are the icons am talking about that l want to remove. After sucessful registry no shortcut lnk but blank black boxes in that places after sometimeSo everytime i had to restart explorer.exe. Restart. Hi, yes it makes the difference. Read: How to Center Taskbar Icons in Windows 10. Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 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). This literally takes a few minutes. 80.86.180.77 Name the new folder as Shell Icons. This is where we need to create a new value that removes the shortcut arrow in Windows 10 and 11. You might already have a subkey named Shell Icons. You can also check the box at the bottom, which will remove the word " shortcut " when you create new shortcuts on the desktop. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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'". Step 1: Open Registry Editor on Windows. This is awesome! Also can't quit skype from the task bar. The backup helps you restore the system if anything terrible happens. The concept and implementation works for me. Use ICO icon file to hide the Arrow; Remove the Arrow from Shortcuts using Registry Editor; Let's see the Topics in detail. Removing the shortcut icon is something people like to have a cleaner Desktop, and it's easy to do. Click to reveal Double-click the 29 entry to modify it. I want to be able to tell if they are shortcuts or files on my desktop by glancing through them. So, right-click on the Explorer folder and select the New -> Key option. Neither have arrows! I just did this on Windows server 2008 R2. Tap Yes, when prompted Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your PC? All Rights Reserved. Any workaround? Select the Shell Icons folder, right-click on the right panel and choose the New -> String Value option. Thanks. Some are rational, others may appear irrational to others. Now they're an eyesore thanks to you Daniel hahaha. Readers like you help support MUO. So names on options may differ.. and is everything ok on your side? Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. All you must do is make a few registry changes, and you are good to go. Apologies, folks, for the joke. To get this to work on my machine, I had to undo step 7. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). An example, iTunes. Any idea what i can do. This is very helpful to restore the registry to the original state. It's mostly just a legacy from the days when Windows had a useful desktop metaphor, where real-world objects represented computer functions. It looks like a real Window that shows just beautiful landscapes (soo peaceful). I'm asuuming that if I delete the Shell Icon file from registry the problem is gonna go away but the arrow will be back. {"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":"