Shortcut Extension - Remove or Restore

How to Remove or Restore the "Shortcut" Name Extension in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial 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 and Windows 8.

   Warning

This will only remove or restore the "shortcut" name 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 or 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

To Add or Remove "Shortcut" Name Extension using a REG File

1. To Remove the Shortcut Extension
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Remove_Shortcut_Extension.reg

Download


2. To Restore the Shortcut Extension
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Restore_Shortcut_Extension.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the extracted .reg file to merge it.

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

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

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Add or Remove "Shortcut" Name Extension in Registry Editor

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

2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

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

4. In the right pane of Explorer, double click/tap on link to modify it. (See screenshot above)

5. To Remove the Shortcut Extension
A) Change the value to 00 00 00 00 and click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (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
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Change the value to 1E 00 00 00 and click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (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

---

• How to Change, Remove, or Restore the Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon in Windows
• How to Change the Icon of a Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Shortcut of a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7

 

[swarfega]

beta 7000 doesnt seem to add "shortcut".

 

[Mark]

Are you sure!!

 

[Brink]

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]

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

 

[VegasDen]

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]

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]

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

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3606-shortcut-arrow-remove-restore.html

 

[Brink]

Thank you Mr GRiM.

 

[system001]

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

 

[Brink]

Hello System001,

I think you're wanting this tutorial instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3606-shortcut-arrow-remove-restore.html

 

[system001]

shortcut arrow is gone

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

i lied. i guess it just took a couple of restarts for some reason. thanks for the download. i have always disliked the arrow overlay. i do not need an arrow to tell me the icon is a shortcut. thanks again.

 

[Brink]

LOL, you're welcome System001.

 

[mindprobe]

Here you go Shawn, seemed to work for me. View attachment 2839

Thanks much! Worked perfectly in Windows 7.

 

[kellyedwards]

Help, after applying shortcut remover in Windows 7 the shortcut overlay displays a small black square where the shortcut arrow was previously. How do I fix this? Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Kelly, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You should be able to restore the default shortcut arrow icon overlay using the tutorial below. If you wanted to removed the arrow, then you can use the same tutorial to remove it after restoring the default settings to fix it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3606-shortcut-arrow-remove-restore.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[kellyedwards]

Thanks for the help. I used the tutorial and after a couple of reboots the icons are back to normal.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Kelly. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[rmike1991]

Perfect! Thanks a lot!