How to remove unused icons from the Windows desktop

Updated: 02/07/2022 by Estimator Promise

Windows Logo

Yous may have many icons on your Windows desktop from different sources. Some icons were placed there after installing Windows, some appear when a program is installed, and you may have created others. Removing Windows desktop icons varies based on how they were made. To keep, identify the type of icon you're trying to remove and follow the steps in the appropriate section.

Tip

Deleting a shortcut does not uninstall a program.

General programme icons and shortcuts

To delete an icon created by saving a file, the installation of a software plan, or user-created shortcuts, follow these steps.

  1. Right-click the icon you want to delete.
  2. In the drib-down card that appears, select Delete.

Choice 2:

  1. Click the icon with your left mouse push button in one case to highlight it.
  2. Printing the Delete key on your keyboard.

Built-in Windows utilities

To remove icons for Windows utilities, such as My Computer, Recycle Bin, or Command Panel, select your version of Windows below and follow the steps.

  • Windows 11
  • Windows viii and 10
  • Windows Vista and seven

Windows 11

  1. Correct-click a blank expanse on the Windows desktop.
  2. Select Personalize in the popular-upwards menu.

Note

If you lot don't see the Personalize option in the pop-upwardly menu, brand certain y'all did non right-click an icon. You lot must right-click an empty space on the desktop.

  1. On the right side of the Personalization settings window, click the Themes option.
  2. Ringlet down to the Related settings section and click the Desktop icon settings option.
  3. Uncheck the box side by side to the desktop icon(s) yous desire to remove, click Apply, and click OK.

Remove desktop icons in Windows 11

Windows 8 and 10

  1. Correct-click a blank expanse on the Windows desktop.
  2. Select Personalize in the popular-up menu.

Note

If yous don't see the Personalize selection in the pop-up menu, make sure you did non right-click an icon. You must right-click an empty space on the desktop.

  1. In the left navigation carte du jour, click Themes.
  2. On the right side of the Themes settings window, under Related Settings, click the Desktop icon settings option.
  3. Uncheck the box next to the desktop icon(s) you want to remove, click Utilise, and click OK.

Remove desktop icons in Windows 10

Windows Vista and seven

  1. Correct-click a blank area of the Windows desktop.
  2. Select Personalize in the pop-upwardly bill of fare.

Note

If you don't see the Personalize pick in the pop-up bill of fare, make sure you did non correct-click an icon. You must right-click an empty space on the desktop.

  1. In the Personalize advent and sounds window, click the Change desktop icons link on the left side.
  2. Uncheck the box next to the desktop icon(s) you desire to remove, click Utilise, and click OK.

Unable to delete a desktop icon

If you tried to delete a desktop icon and it does not work, at that place are several possible causes. Review each section below to make up one's mind if these reasons are the crusade for not beingness able to delete the icon.

Not a shortcut icon

If the icon is not a shortcut to a programme merely rather the main programme itself, y'all may not exist able to delete it. Some programs won't allow yous to delete the desktop icon without uninstalling the program. For these programs, you lot may demand to contact the plan developer to determine if and how yous can remove the desktop icon without uninstalling the program.

  • How to uninstall software in Windows.

Icon is read-just

If y'all can't delete the desktop icon, information technology might be fix equally read-only, preventing you from deleting information technology. Information technology'due south possible that the icon is in employ by some other program and cannot exist deleted until that program is closed. See the page linked below for help fixing either of these issues.

  • Unable to delete file: being used past another person or program.

Don't have permissions to delete files

The user account yous employ to log in to Windows may not have permissions to delete some types of files. Some files on the desktop may require elevated privileges to remove them, peculiarly if they are related to of import Windows programs. If yous don't have the necessary permissions, you can't delete the icon.

If you are using a personal computer but not logged in with an administrator-level account, review the account permissions to see if delete privileges tin can exist granted. Alternatively, change the account to exist an administrator-level account.

  • How to change a user account to an administrator account.

Decadent Windows system files

Faulty system files in Windows can cause your bug uninstalling a desktop icon; however, this is rare. If system files that relate to file deportment and permissions become corrupted, it can cause multiple problems, including not being able to delete the files.

You tin try restoring Windows to a previous signal in time to see if that fixes the trouble. Visit the page linked below for help on activating a Windows restore point.

  • How to restore Windows to an earlier copy.