Cleaning up icons on your Windows 11 desktop is one of those little jobs that can actually make a big difference. If your desktop’s looking cluttered and you’re over scrolling past shortcuts and notifications, it’s a fair dinkum quick fix. The best part? It’s easy enough to do, just gotta know a few tricks.
How to Remove Icons from Your Desktop on Windows 11
First up, why bother hiding or deleting icons? Well, if your desktop’s a bit of a mess and you want it to look a lot neater, this’ll do the trick. Just keep in mind, hiding an icon doesn’t delete it — it’s just hidden away. Same deal with removing icons; your actual files are still tucked away in File Explorer or their folders.
Step 1: Right-Click on the Desktop
Just right-click anywhere on your desktop where there isn’t an icon. This’ll open up a menu of options. Make sure you right-click in an empty spot, so you don’t trigger something else by accident. When you do, you’ll see options like View, Sort by, and Refresh. Focus on the View for now.
Step 2: Select “View”
Hover over View and you’ll see more options. This is where you can choose icon sizes and toggle the desktop icons on or off.
Step 3: Click “Show Desktop Icons”
Uncheck the box next to Show desktop icons. That’ll hide all your icons instantly — shortcuts, files, everything. Like magic, the desktop clears up quick smart. Don’t worry, those icons aren’t gone forever — they’re still in your folders or in File Explorer.
Pro tip: Sometimes this isn’t perfect the first go — some setups might only hide a few icons. Toggling it off and on again or giving your PC a quick restart can fix it. Windows can be a bit quirky like that.
Step 4: Delete or Move Icons You Don’t Want
If you want to get rid of particular icons for good, right-click them and select Delete. Be careful though — that just deletes the shortcut, not the actual app or file. If you’re unsure, deleting the shortcut sends it to the Recycle Bin. Have a look before you delete to see what it links to.
Alternatively, drag your icons into a folder if you want to tidy things up without deleting them outright. Create a folder on your drive, then just drag the icons in — easy as.
Extra Tip: Automate the Tidying Up
On some Windows setups, you can turn on Auto arrange icons under the same View menu. That helps keep your desktop neat without messing around too much. Moves everything into line automatically for you.
Tips for Removing Icons from Your Desktop on Windows 11
- Use Auto Arrange Icons to keep things tidy after moving stuff around.
- Review what shortcuts you actually need — if you don’t use ’em, delete or hide ’em.
- Instead of cluttering the desktop, pin your favourite programs to the Start menu or the taskbar. Keeps the desktop nice and minimal.
- If you don’t want to delete but want to tidy things up, move shortcuts into folders. Easy fix.
- And don’t forget — back up important files somewhere safe. It’s tempting to delete shortcuts in a rush when you’re trying to clear things out.
FAQs
Can I get my icons back after hiding them?
Absolutely. Just right-click the desktop, go to View, and tick Show desktop icons. Everything pops back up. It’s dead easy to toggle and handy when you’re testing things out.
Does deleting icons delete the software?
Nah, deleting a shortcut only removes it from the desktop. Your program or file itself stays put — unless it’s a link to a network or cloud storage, then a different story.
How do I get back a deleted icon?
Check your Recycle Bin. If it’s there, right-click and choose Restore. If not, you might need to recreate the shortcut from the app or file location.
Can I hide only selected icons?
That’s trickier — the Show desktop icons toggle hides everything at once. If you want specific icons hidden, your best bet is to move those shortcuts into folders or tweak their permissions, but honestly, organising them into folders is usually easier.
Are hidden icons still reachable?
Yes, even if they’re hidden, you can always find them in File Explorer under C:\Users\YourName\Desktop or search for them. They’re not gone for good.
Summary
- Right-click your desktop and select View.
- Uncheck Show desktop icons to hide everything.
- Right-click your icons to delete or drag them into folders.
- Use Auto Arrange Icons if you want to keep things neat and tidy.
- Remember, hiding icons isn’t deleting — your files are still safe and sound.
Hope this helps someone save a bit of hassle. Tidying up the desktop might not be the most glamorous task, but there’s a real satisfaction in having a clean workspace. Tweak, hide, or delete until it feels just right.