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

 

[LoveSunrises]

Hello Brink you are being so great in helping me.

Now my qauestion is in option 1 custom icon is it always the picof icon changed of a file with magnify glass?

 

[Brink]

Yeah, the magnifying glass stands for search. In this case for "Custom Icon", it's to search and select a icon to use.

The magnifying glass is not what is used for the shortcut arrow though.

 

[LoveSunrises]

Hello Brink please excuse my computer illiteracy but how do I select the icons to remove the arrow?

I know to choose Custom then it takes me to FX app with save on the bottom of page

What do I do to select the individual icons to remove the arrow only on those I select?

You are being so very very helpful

 

[Brink]

It's no problem.

Unfortunately, you cannot remove the shortcut arrow overlay on only specified icons. It's a all or none option.

 

[LoveSunrises]

Aww you are Brink!!!!! Thank you so much!!!! You have been so informative and so kind. Can you tell me why when I choose no arrow my desktop icons it removes arrow and their look remains as should be but icons in my folders turn black?

Cheers,

LoveSunrises

 

[Brink]

Not sure since it has always worked fine for me. I suppose if you may have used the 32-bit version of the program instead of the 64-bit one for your 64-but Windows 7, or something is interfering with the program. Possible an AV program.

 

[LoveSunrises]

Oh my my my my I'm so thankful for you Brink!!! You came up with the solution!!!

I disabled my AV program then ran the option 1 program chosing no arrow and voila no arrows and all my icons in folders are no longer black!!!!!!

You are just super and again I'm so grateful for all your help

Yippeee no arrows and no black icons.

YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!

Have a great day/night

LoveSunrises

 

[Brink]

That's great news LoveSunrises. You're most welcome.

Does the icon continue to work after enabling your AV program?

 

[CCx]

In one of the "C:\Users\Public" folders is good.

In addition, check to make sure that the file is unblocked.

You could use either the program in OPTION ONE, or manually in OPTION TWO.

The file is unblocked (and has been for over two years), and it is displaying on all of my desktop icons, and in other areas as well. The default icon is only appearing when browsing for a file or image.

Click

I give up now. Thank you for all your help

Cyd

 

[Brink]

Cyd,

I'm not sure why it's doing that in only that location. You might see if you may have the same issue that LoveSunrises did with her AV program, and temporarily disable it while using the program in OPTION ONE.

 

[LoveSunrises]

Hello Brink!!! Yes everything is fine when AV program is enabled!!! Yippeee!!!!

You have been wonderful!!!

Is this the place to get advise on a good AV free program for my operating system? I would like to keep dealing with you because you sure know your stuff!!!!

Best regards,

LoveSunrises

 

[Brink]

Great news.

Go ahead and create a new thread in System Security for the AV since it's off topic from the tutorial, and I'll be happy to help there.

 

[LoveSunrises]

Hehehe Brink meet ya there

Thank you Brink I just posted my thread

 

[CCx]

Cyd,

I'm not sure why it's doing that in only that location. You might see if you may have the same issue that LoveSunrises did with her AV program, and temporarily disable it while using the program in OPTION ONE.

Love Sunrise posts a little scattered and difficult for me to follow the issue she had... will let it go, and just get used to the default arrows on browse. I did disable AVG and do a clean Option 1 install, but had tried that before posting here...

Thanks for your help

 

[Brink]

Cyd,

Sorry I couldn't help with it.

 

[endeavor]

Made a new icon for this program

I've always liked this Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager program that Brink has available on his first post.
I also liked to do the procedure manually too, but this program has always made it much easier to swap icons around when I want to test different ones for shortcut overlays.

One of my favorite icons in it is the Light option that you can choose, it's inner 32x32 icon looks great on the Desktop especially over the yellow folders, etc, but I've come to realize sometimes it gets engulfed in a similar icon color scheme and makes it harder to see that it's a shortcut. This is very evident even more-so when you open up Explorer and the smaller 16x16 size is in use - and it's here that the Light version is even more visually problematic to differentiate its shortcuts on similar colored icons. Frustrated by this I would always go back to the old standby of wxpArrow.ico, because of it's squared outlined backdrop you could always tell a shortcut no matter where you were which was great.

I've always wanted to find something similar to the wxpArrow.ico because when you're using Windows 7 for instance, you want to have something Newer Looking but still be effective as that old one.
Today using IcoFX I've come up with a solution and have made a new icon that gives me the best of both worlds, with the same functional design of the wxp original but with a Windows 7 flavor to it. It's nothing fancy but I like it better than the original wxp color style, and now better than the Light option version.
Here's a 'screenshot' comparison of the wxp original to the new 7 style of it:


If you like my new wxpArrow7.ico I'll share, you can download it here:
wxpArrow7.zip
Just unzip and place the wxpArrow7.ico file into:
C:\Program Files\Frameworkx\Vista Shortcut Manager
..and then run the program as usual choosing the Custom Arrow option, and selecting to use wxpArrow7.ico and click apply, and let it logoff/logon to use it.
Also lately on subsequent installs I've been using Option One with it's "Windows Shortcut Arrow Editor" which works on 7 without having to install .NET like Option Two does using ''Vista Shortcut Manager'' and so here just substitute the wxpArrow7 icon within that procedure instead.
Either way it's the icon you use that's the benefit, these days I prefer using the Arrow7 icon no matter the OS.

After implementing in the rare event that you don't see the icon display after logon, then you can use this excellent method by Brink to re-build your Icon Cache: Rebuild Icon Cache
...which you should do every so often anyway, as well you can increase your icon cache size for its benefits using this method by Brink here: Increase your icon-cache size
Anyway definitely after rebuilding your icon-cache you will see it if you hadn't already the first time.

Hope you enjoy it.

 

[remm]

This worked for me

Using W764 Ultimate and had removed the shortcut arrow so long ago I don't remember what method I used. But tonight I suddenly got black square icons in my folders (Details View), while Desktop icons were fine. The method to fix this was to delete the Shell Icons key. When I rebooted the black icon problem was fixed, but the shortcut arrow was back (reverted to the default).

I tried the methods in the OP (except for Option Two because it did not note the icon number required to remove the arrow)... but whenever the shortcut arrow got fixed, the black icons would return. (Also the "Blank.ico" would not stay transparent. It kept turning black while I had no "UNBLOCK" button on the General tab which was supposed to indicate it was already unblocked.)

Then I tried the following which finally worked. It's basically Option Two but with the actual number required to remove the arrow:


1. regedit to (or create the following key):
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/Shell Icons

2. If there is a value already named "29" click on it to modify it.
If there is not a "29" value listed, right-click on blank space -> New -> String Value
and name it "29". Then click on it to modify it.

3. Under "Value Data" paste the following:
C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll,50

Reboot. (You can try logging out and back in but best to reboot.)

 

[Brink]

Thank you Remm. I've updated OPTION TWO a bit more to help make it even more useful.

 

[remm]

Fix For Black Icons in Explorer

You're welcome and happy to help.

A final note here because it might help someone else...

After that fix worked I later rebooted and the icons in Explorer for program shortcuts (vs folder icons) were black squares again, though Desktop icons were fine (and no arrow of course). The icons would appear in full color for a split second, then would be repainted in black. FTR I use Explorer in Details view.

After trying dozens of fixes from rebuilding icon and thumb caches to dancing a jig with a beer stein on my head, I finally found the problem. I had changed the display of text under Personalization/Display/"Set Custom Text Size" from the default of 100% to a custom 110% which Windows apparently can't scale up to properly when it comes to displaying icons in Explorer. When I chose 100% the icons in Explorer were displayed properly again, as they are with the other Windows-provided choice of 125%. I don't know why Windows offers the option to enter a custom percentage for text if it's going to screw up Explorer-icon-display, but maybe there is some extenuating circumstance on my system that prevents it from scaling the icons properly.

IAC if you have black icons in Explorer and can't figure out why and nothing else works, try right-clicking on Desktop -> Personalize -> Display -> "Set Custom Text Size (DPI)" and chose one of the defaults you are not already using and see if that fixes it. If you are already using one of the defaults, chose a different default, then log off/back on and switch back to the default of choice.

As always, thanks to all for all the great help here.

 

[Brink]

Interesting solution Remm. Thank you for sharing.