Windows 7 - Shortcut Extension - Remove or Restore

**Brink**

How to Remove or Restore the "Shortcut" Name Extension in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to remove or restore the "- Shortcut" extension from a shortcut file name when any new shortcut is created in Windows 7.

Warning

This will only remove or restore the "shortcut" extension for newly created shortcuts afterwards, not for previously existing shortcuts.

EXAMPLE: A New Folder with the New Folder Shortcut
NOTE: When you create a new shortcut of New Folder, by default, it will add the Shortcut extenstion to the file name. The last icon is an example of when you create a shortcut of New Folder with the Shortcut extension set to be removed.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Remove the Shortcut Extension
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Shortcut_Extension.zip

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore the Shortcut Extension
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Shortcut_Extension.zip

3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

4. Open the downloaded .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click on the extracted .reg file and click on Merge.

6. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files if you like.

OPTION TWO

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the Start Menu Search box, type regedit and press Enter.

3. In the registry, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

4. In the right pane, right click on link and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)

5. To Remove the Shortcut Extension
A) Change the value to 00 00 00 00 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: To change the value, press the Delete (Del) key once and type 00.

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Restore the Shortcut Extension
A) Change the value to 1E 00 00 00 and click on OK. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: To change the value, press the Delete (Del) key once and type 1E.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**swarfega** · 01-13-2009

beta 7000 doesnt seem to add "shortcut".

**Mark** · 01-13-2009

Are you sure!!

Name: 2009-01-13_223655.jpg
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**Brink** · 01-13-2009

Hi Swarfega,

I must agree with Mr GRiM. The Windows 7 Beta (7000 build) show the "Shortcut" prefix for me still when I create one from a New Folder on the desktop.

**smarteyeball** · 01-15-2009

Is there an easy way to remove the shortcut overlay? Besides third party apps, I never found a "windows" way to remove them.

**VegasDen** · 01-15-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by smarteyeball

Is there an easy way to remove the shortcut overlay? Besides third party apps, I never found a "windows" way to remove them.

Closest I came to that was this reg hack with a blank .ico. Works for me as it did in Vista. Read the readme so you know which to use (for 32 or 64 bits). Got it on Neowin a long time ago.

**Brink** · 01-15-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by smarteyeball

Is there an easy way to remove the shortcut overlay? Besides third party apps, I never found a "windows" way to remove them.

Smarty,

The only safe and easy way I know is with a 3rd party app as well. The other methods usually messed up the shortcut icons. I have not tried this in Windows 7 yet, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work though.

Shortcut Arrow - Vista Forums

VegasDen,

THe link you link you posted comes back as invalid.

**Mark** · 01-15-2009

Here you go Shawn, seemed to work for me. RemoveArrow.zip

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...e-restore.html

**Brink** · 01-15-2009

Thank you Mr GRiM.

system001 · 05-24-2009

does this just work for folders? i still have the arrow overlay on my shortcuts i have sent to the desktop.

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