Shortcut Arrow - Change, Remove, or Restore

How to Change, Remove, or Restore the Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon in Windows​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to change, remove, or restore the default shortcut arrow overlay on all shortcut icons in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Warning

Removing the shortcut arrow will make it harder to tell which files are shortcuts or not.

You can still tell by right clicking or press and hold on the file, and click/tap on Properties to see if you have a Shortcut tab or not.

OPTION ONE

Change Shortcut Arrow using "Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover"

1. If you have not already, click/tap on the Download button below to download the Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover (Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager) program below for the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows you have installed. Save the .msi file to your desktop, and install it.
32-bit (x86) Windows

Download



64-bit (x64) Windows

Download


2. Double click/tap on the program's shortcut to run the program.

3. To Change, Restore, or Remove the Arrow for All Shortcuts
A) Select (dot) the arrow option you want for the shortcut arrow. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you selected Custom Arrow to change the shortcut arrow, then click on Select and navigate to and choose a ICO (icon) file you have downloaded to use as the shortcut arrow.
4. To Remove the "Shortcut" Name from All Shortcuts
NOTE: See also: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/804-shortcut-extension-remove-restore.html
A) Check the box to also remove the - Shortcut name extension for new shortcuts that are created.
5. Click/tap on Apply.

6. Click/tap on Yes to log off to apply the changes. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you like, you could also just restart explorer instead to apply your changes.

7. Log back on and your done.

   Warning

If you used the Light Arrow or No Arrow option and uninstall "Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover", then they will be undone the next time you log off/on or restart the computer/explorer.

The Arrow (default) and Custom Arrow options will not be undone if you uninstall "Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover".

OPTION TWO

To Change Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. In regedit, navigate to the location below:
NOTE: If Shell Icons it is not in the left pane under Explorer, right click on Explorer, and click on New and Key. Type Shell Icons for the new keys's name, and press Enter.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons

3. In the right pane of Shell Icons, right click on an empty area, and click/tap on New and String Value, and name it 29.

4. Double click/tap on the 29 sting value to modify it.

5. Type in the full path of your custom .ico file within quotes, OR copy and paste the path below for what overlay icon you would like to use, and click/tap on OK.

   Tip

If you like, you can download a transparent.ico file here to use instead.

(No arrow - Transparent) %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50

(Classic) %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-30

(Default) %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-16769
6. Log off and on, or restart the computer to apply.

OPTION THREE

To Change Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon using a REG File

NOTE: This option does the same thing as OPTION TWO above, but automatically for you using a .reg file.
1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Restore Default Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

Default_Shortcut_Arrow.reg


Download


3. To Use Classic Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

Classic_Shortcut_Arrow.reg


Download


4. To Have No Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

No_Shortcut_Arrow.reg


Download


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

6. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Remove or Restore the "Shortcut" Name Extension in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Hide a Folder or Shortcut Icon in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Create a Shortcut of a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Remove the Lock Icon from Files and Folders in Windows 7

 

[Brink]

If I delete the Shell Icons key, will it restore the default arrow, or will it cause problems?

Hello Yoyodude,

If you only have the 29 string value in the Shell Icons key, then it's not going to hurt anything to delete Shell Icons. It will just use the default icon when it's deleted and you log off/on or restart the computer to apply.

 

[Keithuk]

Hi Brink.

May be so but if you uninstall it the short-cut arrows come back so whats the point in installing it in the first place the OPTION3 does it perfectly

 

[Brink]

Hey Keith,

Odd. So far uninstalling the program has never undone the changes I made with it. I prefer to not use a program as well, but just included it for those that may not be comfortable using the other options.

Either way, it's all about what works best for you though.

 

[Yoyodude1124]

If I delete the Shell Icons key, will it restore the default arrow, or will it cause problems?

Hello Yoyodude,

If you only have the 29 string value in the Shell Icons key, then it's not going to hurt anything to delete Shell Icons. It will just use the default icon when it's deleted and you log off/on or restart the computer to apply.

Thanks! Does the program shown in the post just add the registry values? or does it do something else?

 

[Brink]

Yoyodude,

Correct, the program just adds the same 29 registry string value entry with an icon location as OPTION TWO.

 

[SimonR]

Hi, I'm having trouble with the Vista Shortcut Manager app, and I don't really know how to proceed. What happens is, when I apply the app, with the 'No Arrows' option, I get an error message (see attached). If I click Details, I get a load of stuff that means nothing to me, but I copied it anyway, in case it's of any use:

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at VistaArrowGone.Form1.btApply_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5472 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
FxVisor
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Frameworkx/Vista%20Shortcut%20Manager/FxVisor.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5468 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5476 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5476 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Accessibility/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Accessibility.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

If I click Continue in the error box, the error box just pops up again. If I click Quit, the application closes, but then I have to manually log off and on again, or reboot. The shortcut arrows have been removed, as I wanted, but although my desktop icons display perfectly, any Shortcuts when viewing in Windows Explorer, have black boxes instead of the icon.

I don't really want to start messing with registry keys, until I know what's going on with the Vista Shortcut Manager app, as this also happened when I tried to use the Ultimate Windows Tweaker, so it appears to be something on my machine, (or, perhaps the something that's operating it!) rather than the apps themselves. I have tried VSM in Administrator mode, and still the same thing happens. This is a new (1 week old) installation of Windows 7. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Simon.

 

[Brink]

Hello Simon,

Are you sure that you downloaded the 32-bit version of the program?

If so, then you might see if right clicking on it's shortcut, and clicking on "Run as administrator" may help.

If you like, OPTION THREE is another good choice when you do not want the arrow without having to go into Registry Editor.

 

[SimonR]

Hi,

I downloaded the app from the link at the start of this thread, but I will double check it later. On my phone at the moment.

I don't really want to try other options until this issue is rectified, as even if I use VSM to replace the arrow, I get the error message again, and the black boxes remain.

 

[SimonR]

Hi Brink,

Well, nothing seems to be working properly for me. I uninstalled the initial installation of VSM, and upon rebooting, got a desktop full of 'Folder' icons on top of my normal icons. I then used Rebuild_Icon_Cache, which I got from here somewhere, which did what it said on the tin, but I was then left with all the shortcut arrows back.

I then tried with a new installation of VSM, and exactly the same thing happened, with the error message, and the black boxes on shortcut icons inside folders (but not on the Desktop - they were OK). I reverted back to 'With Arrows' using VSM, got the error message again, but it did restore my icons.

I then tried Option Three, followed the instructions to the letter, but once again, when I rebooted, the shortcut arrows had been replaced by 'Folder' icons on top of my Desktop icons. With some exasperation, I used Rebuild_Icon_Cache again (the Reg thing), and this time, it has rebuilt my Desktop icons, with NO shortcut arrows, but I'm still getting the black boxes inside folders.

Curiously, the 'Blank.ico', which has been Unlocked, and is in C:\Windows, is also displaying as a black box now, but it didn't when I opened the file initially.

What the heck is going on here??

 

[Brink]

Sounds like you might have some sort of permissions issue. As test, enable the built-in "elevated" Administrator account, then try this again while logged in to that account to see how it works.

 

[SimonR]

Thanks - I didn't know about that, but have just tried it, and exactly the same thing happens. I'm the only user, so am a 'normal' Administrator anyway. I've even tried disabling my security product, F-Secure Internet Security, and that made no difference either.

It's these Folder icons over the Desktop icons that's puzzling me. Where are those coming from? It's like the shortcut icons are being substituted for something else, somehow.

I assume this is supposed to work by the shortcut arrow being replaced by a transparent image?

 

[SimonR]

Ping!! Lightbulb moment alert!! I've worked out what it is. I'm using a custom text size (110%), as I was having trouble reading a lot of the very small, thin text in Windows 7, and that must also change the size of some of the icons. When I revert back to the default 100% text size (Personalize > Display), the black boxes are gone and the icons display as intended, without the shortcut arrow.

So, if that's the reason, is there a solution? Resize Blank.ico, perhaps? But, to what? And would that then screw up the desktop icons?

 

[SimonR]

OK, I've got so far, now I'm stumped. When I open Blank.ico in Adobe Elements, it says there are four icon sizes within the file. The smallest is 16x16, so I assume this is the one that needs to be resized, if my theory is correct. But how do I resize just that one, and leave the other three as they were? I can resize it to 110%, but when I save the file, it asks if I want to save as a normal .ico file or a .png. Whichever I save as, produces just one file, sized just over 16x16. So, do I just need to resize all of them?

Anyway, Zeberdee says it's time for bed, so I will have to resume this tomorrow.

Thanks for the help so far!

Simon.

 

[Brink]

Odd. Normally, your DPI settings shouldn't have any affect on this.

Let's see how using the transparent option in OPTION TWO may work for you instead.

%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50

 

[SimonR]

Cool, that seems to have worked.

Many thanks!

Simon.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Simon. That's great news.

 

[SimonR]

Unfortunately, the good news was only temporary. Now, every time I boot up, I'm getting black boxes all over my Desktop, which is worse then ever before. If I rebuild the icon cache, the icons go back to normal, without the arrow, but I don't want to have to do that each time I start my machine. How can I remove all that I've done, and start again with this? I never had this problem with XP, and I'm really starting to dislike Windows 7!

 

[Brink]

Sorry to hear that. You might consider doing a repair install to see if it will work properly after trying to change the arrow again.

 

[SimonR]

I don't really want to have to resort to that, if I can help it.

 

[Brink]

I can understand that. Do you have a restore point dated before you had these issues available?