HomeGroup Desktop Icon - Add or Remove

How to Add or Remove the HomeGroup Desktop Icon in Windows 7​

   Information

A homegroup is a group of PCs on a home network that can share devices (such as printers), and libraries (such as your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video libraries). Using a homegroup makes sharing easier. Your homegroup is protected with a password, which you can change at any time.

This will show you how to add or remove the default HomeGroup desktop icon in Windows 7. This is not like a standard shortcut.

   Note

If the HomeGroup desktop icon just mysteriously appeared on you, then sometimes a simple refresh (F5) of the desktop will remove it.

EXAMPLE: HomeGroup desktop icon

Here's How:
1. To Add the HomeGroup Desktop Icon
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_HomeGroup_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Remove the HomeGroup Desktop Icon
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_HomeGroup_Desktop_Icon.reg


Download


3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file, and click on Merge.

5. If prompted, click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK.

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

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Default HomeGroup Icon in Windows 7
• How to Link your Live ID and Share Files in Windows 7 HomeGroup
• How to Add or Remove the Libraries Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove a Default Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to Create a "Desktop Icon Settings" Shortcut in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Easily Change the Windows Desktop Icons Size
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to View or Print Your Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Change the Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 7
• How to Join or Add a Computer to a Windows 7 Homegroup
• How to Leave a Windows 7 Homegroup
• How to Change Windows 7 Homegroup File and Folder Sharing Settings
• How to Create a HomeGroup Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Default Desktop Icons in Windows 7
• How to Rename "Homegroup" in the Windows 7 Explorer Navigation Pane
• How to Create a HomeGroup Settings Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a HomeGroup Folder Shortcut in Windows 7

 

[Lynda]

OK. Thank you again for your help

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[corduroy33]

cool it worked, not sure why lynda had problems, worked right away for me using winrar right click on reg file then merge at destop, thanks a lot blink

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Corduroy.

 

[Paultx]

The HomeGroup icon appeared on my desktop in a somewhat scary way: after I ran Rootkit Revealer (which BTW didn't run well, as reported here). I can't determine a cause-effect relationship here. The icon has never been there before. AAMOF, if I ever wanted to put it there on purpose I wouldn't know how...

 

[Brink]

Hello Paul,

Did you create or join a Homegroup recently, or installed one of these all in one utility programs that may have had an option to add this that was mistakenly enabled?

 

[Paultx]

Hello Paul,

Did you create or join a Homegroup recently, or installed one of these all in one utility programs that may have had an option to add this that was mistakenly enabled?

None of the above, but I have TuneUp Utilities 2010 installed since January and never found any way I could add that icon with it. The .reg file provided here removed the icon from the desktop. I remember I created a home group some months ago, but the icon didn't show then.

 

[Brink]

Not sure why it apeared out of the blue like that, but I'm glad you were able to get rid of it.

 

[daaniieelelle]

Hee, thank you so much for this tutorial! The icon really began to annoy me, especially because it always showed up in the left bottom of the screen while I had put it more up to fit it right with other icons! I suppose the removal tool only removed the icon and not particular important data or the functions of the HomeGroup?

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Danielle, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No, it only removes the icon and not any of the Homegroup features or functions.

 

[FRUHD]

yessSssSssS!

Totally worked xD
I tried manually fixing the .reg from another forum, and doing it from the services menu, and neither of them worked. Went ahead and downloaded and clicked this super easy way, and the troublesome clutter icon is gone.

 

[MarkmBha]

THANK YOU!

Thank you very much for the information...
It worked perfectly!

 

[p3x744]

I had the icon show up on my desktop today after booting up. I Just closed all windows and press F5 to refresh the desktop and it goes away. With windows update disabled I'm curious where it came from in the first place. :huh:

 

[Brink]

Hello p3x744, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, having Windows Update disabled wouldn't matter for the HomeGroup desktop icon.

It appears to be a glitch that sometimes just shows up for no apparent reason. Luckily a F5 to refresh the desktop usually sorts it.