How to Make Desktop Icons Disappear

Manage your Windows desktop icons.

Your Windows 7 desktop has several icons installed on the desktop. You can manage these desktop icons and remove them from the desktop. This helps you clear your desktop of unneeded icons, so you can keep more important and frequently used icons accessible. The icons are shortcuts for Windows utilities, so you can still access the applications through the Windows "Start" menu or the command line.

Instructions

1. Right click your Windows desktop and select "Personalize." This opens a new dialog properties window.

2. Click the "Change Desktop Icons" link on the left window pane. This opens a list of desktop icons settings.

3. Remove the check mark next to each group of icons you want removed from your desktop. For instance, if you want to remove the Recycle Bin, remove the check mark next to "Recycle Bin." You can also hide your application files by removing the check mark next to "User's Files."

4. Click "OK" to save your settings. Notice the icons disappear from your desktop after the properties window closes.

References

• Microsoft: Add or Delete Desktop Icons