How to remove unused icons from the Windows desktop?

The Windows desktop will have various icons used for meeting the different requirements. The icons are shown on the desktop when we install a program, and we may also create some icons on the desktop. The process of removing the icons on the desktop differs based on their creation.

Tip

If we delete a shortcut, it will not uninstall a program.

General program icons and shortcuts

To delete an icon created after the software program installation and user-designed shortcuts, follow the steps below

• Please move to the icon and do a right click on it.
• Then a drop-down menu gets open from that, choose the Deleteoption.

Another method

• Move to the icon and do a left-click to highlight the icon.
• Then press the Deletekey on the keyboard.

Tip

If you have accidentally deleted any icon on the desktop, you can again create and locate it on the desktop whenever required.

Built-in Windows utilities

To delete the icons for the Windows utilities like This PC, and Recycle Bin, you need to choose your Windows version and follow the below steps.

Windows 11

• On the desktop move the cursor to the blank area and do a right-click.
• Now select the Personalize option in the drop-down menu which appears.

Note: In the pop-up menu, if you don't find the Personalize option, you should understand that you have forgotten or did not properly right-click an icon. Then it would be best to right-click on a blank space on a desktop.

• Now personalization settings window will open from that. Select the Themesoption.
• Move to the Related settings area using the scroll button and select the Desktop icon settings option.
• Then move to the icons that you want to remove and click on the check boxes to erase the tick marks in them. Then click Apply and OK.

Windows 8 and 10

• Move the cursor to the empty area on the desktop and right-click.
• Then select the Personalize option from the drop-down menu.

Note: In the pop-up menu, if you don't find the Personalize option, you should understand that you have forgotten or did not properly right-click an icon. Then it would be best to right-click on a blank space on a desktop.

• Now personalization settings window will open from that. Select the Themesoption.
• Move to the Related settings area using the scroll button and select the Desktop icon settings option.
• Click on the box adjacent to the desktop icons you wish to delete. Then click Apply and OK.

Windows Vista and 7

• Move the cursor to the empty area on the desktop and right-click.
• Now select the Personalize option in the drop-down menu.

Note: In the pop-up menu, if you don't find the Personalize option, you should understand that you have forgotten or did not properly right-click an icon. Then it would be best to right-click on a blank space on a desktop.

• Now in the Personalization appearance and sounds window, select Change desktop icons on the left side of the window.
• Click on the box to remove the tick mark adjacent to the desktop icons you wish to delete. Then click Apply and OK.

Unable to delete a desktop icon

If you have already tried to remove the desktop icon, but it won't work, there are many causes. Please go through them and find the reason and try to solve it. If you are unable to delete or remove the icons then the most feasible reasons are discussed on the following page.

Not a shortcut icon

If the icon is not a shortcut for the application or program, you may be unable to delete it from the desktop. In such a case, your desktop icon for the respective application will be deleted only after the uninstallation of the program from your device. If you wish to delete the desktop icon without deleting the program, you should contact the program developer to know about the process.

Icon is read-only

When you cannot delete the icon on the desktop, one more possibility is that the icon can be read-only. It is a case that the icon may be used by another program so that you cannot delete it. If you face such kind of situation, you can delete the icon after you close the related program.

I do not have permission for deleting files.

When the account you are using does not have permission to delete some files, in such case, you cannot delete the desktop icon. In that program, it requires even more advanced permissions to delete icons. If you do not have privileged permissions, you cannot remove the icon.

When you are working in a computer or laptop with a user account that does not have administrator level permissions to delete the icons then removal of icons from the desktop is impossible. In such situations switch the account to get the administrator permissions.

Corrupt Windows system files

When system files linked to file actions and permissions get faulty, it may cause multiple problems, like being unable to remove files. The error-prone system files in Windows may cause problems related to desktop icon uninstallation. But this category of problems is rare.

If you face such problems, restore the Windows to the previous point where your problem is fixed.