Windows 7 - Desktop Icons - Hide or Show

**Brink** · 02-07-2009

How to Hide or Show Desktop Icons in Windows 7

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Click here to read the entire tutorial

**Brink** · 01-29-2010

Zardoc,

The registry entry for only hiding the desktop icons is this instead to have the right click still work on the desktop. Have you tried it without the "NoDesktop" entry instead?

Hide:

Code:

 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideIcons"=dword:00000001

Unhide:

Code:

 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideIcons"=dword:00000000

(Log off and on to apply)

**Zardoc** · 01-29-2010

Hi Brink,

I tested this a better of late last night and this morning. Yes, I know the reg tweak for the right click desktop command to remove icons is the one you give and the one I posted in first of 2 tweaks. It's been like that since Win 95 I think?

Now the second command did not work like I expected. It took a few reboots to notice that it actually does the same thing as the Local Group Policy Editor to hide all desktop items. Basically it also disables right click context menu.

So what I thought might be the issue, is a conflict between user and machine. I applied a different reg tweak and I can say for sure after 10 reboots the issue has gone.

Here is the simple tweak. Paste in Note pad and save as HideDesktopIcons.reg

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideIcons"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideIcons"=dword:00000001

Double click file. Reboot to apply.

It seems that this hack bugs when you log off. If you restart, it always works. I think this is the repro for the problem.

Even if this hack works, this still shows without a doubt that there is an issue with desktop icon settings.

**Brink** · 01-29-2010

That's great news Zardock. I have updated the tutorial for this.

**Zardoc** · 01-29-2010

Since there is a repro, I will post this issue in SP1 beta.

Thanks Brink.

**eeric** · 02-03-2010

Just letting you guys know. I installed Windows 7 a few days ago (love it so far) and thanks to this Forum I not only got the Desktop looking the way I wanted, but system runs faster and so much smoother.

THANK YOU ALL

Ohhh.... GO SAINTS!

Eric

**Brink** · 02-03-2010

You're most welcome Eric from all of us, and welcome to Seven Forums.

**Flopo79** · 02-16-2010

ieii (: awesome
i hate desktop icons x)

**l0w33ji** · 03-18-2010

Saving the theme doesn't work for me. The icons still show up after reboot and when connecting/disconnecting to power. I don't want to mess with my registry like option 2, are there any alternative solution for this?

**Brink** · 03-18-2010

Hello l0w33ji, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As a test, create a new administrator account to see if they work properly in it.

**l0w33ji** · 03-19-2010

Made new admin account, saved the theme, reboot 2x, they still show up.

Windows 7 - Desktop Icons - Hide or Show

Desktop Icons - Hide or Show problems?