How to Remove Icons from Desktop Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Is your Windows 11 desktop cluttered with too many icons? Whether it’s shortcuts, app installers, or system icons like This PC and Recycle Bin, removing them can make your workspace look cleaner and more organized. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to remove icons from desktop Windows 11 in several different ways — step by step.

Table of Contents

📝 Quick Summary (Key Takeaways)

You can remove icons by deleting, hiding, or turning off system icons.
Right-click + Delete works for shortcuts and files.
Use Personalization settings to hide system icons like This PC or Recycle Bin.
Temporarily hide everything by disabling Show desktop icons.
No worries: removing a shortcut doesn’t uninstall the app.

Why Remove Icons from Desktop in Windows 11?

A clean desktop isn’t just about looks — it improves productivity and reduces distractions. Here’s why you might want to clear icons:

✅ Less clutter → Easier to find important files
✅ More focus → Distraction-free workspace
✅ Better aesthetics → Enjoy Windows 11’s sleek design and wallpapers
✅ Faster startup → Too many desktop files can slightly slow boot time

How to Remove Icons from Desktop in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

There are multiple methods depending on the type of icon. Let’s break them down.

Method 1: Remove Shortcut Icons

Most app and file icons on your desktop are shortcuts.

Go to your Desktop.
Right-click the shortcut icon you want to remove.
Select Delete.
Confirm by clicking Yes (if prompted).

💡 Tip: This only deletes the shortcut, not the actual app or file.

Method 2: Hide System Icons (Recycle Bin, This PC, etc.)

Windows 11 shows some system icons by default. To remove them:

Right-click on the Desktop and choose Personalize.
Go to Themes in the left sidebar.
Scroll down and click Desktop icon settings.
Uncheck the boxes for the icons you don’t want (e.g., Computer, Recycle Bin, Network).
Click Apply → OK.

Method 3: Hide All Desktop Icons

If you want a completely clean desktop:

Right-click on the Desktop.
Hover over View.
Uncheck Show desktop icons.

Now, your desktop will be completely blank. Don’t worry — the icons are still there; they’re just hidden.

Method 4: Remove Preinstalled App Icons

Sometimes apps like Microsoft Edge or OneDrive place icons on your desktop.

Right-click the icon.
Select Uninstall if you don’t need the app.
- If you only want to remove the desktop shortcut, just select Delete.

Method 5: Use File Explorer to Remove Desktop Items

You can also manage desktop icons directly from File Explorer.

Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to:

C:\Users\YourUsername\Desktop
Delete or move icons from here.

Method 6: Clean Up Desktop Automatically

Use Storage Sense or manually create folders to organize icons:

Enable Storage Sense:
- Go to Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense.
- Configure it to clear unused files automatically.
Or manually create folders like Work, Games, Projects and drag icons into them.

Troubleshooting: Can’t Remove a Desktop Icon?

Sometimes an icon won’t go away. Here’s why:

🔹 It’s a system-protected icon → Disable it in Desktop icon settings.
🔹 It reappears after restart → Likely tied to an app startup; disable startup in Task Manager.
🔹 Permission issues → Try deleting with Administrator rights.

Best Practices for a Clean Desktop

Keep only essential shortcuts.
Use the Start menu or Taskbar pinning instead of cluttering the desktop.
Organize files into folders instead of spreading them everywhere.
Regularly clean your desktop — treat it like digital spring cleaning.

FAQs

1. If I delete a desktop shortcut, will it uninstall the app?
No. Deleting a shortcut only removes the icon, not the program itself.

2. How do I bring back a removed system icon?
Go to Settings → Personalization → Themes → Desktop icon settings and re-check the box.

3. Can I remove the Recycle Bin icon completely?
Yes, uncheck it in Desktop icon settings.

4. What if I want a completely blank desktop?
Right-click your desktop → View → Uncheck Show desktop icons.

5. Why do some icons come back after I delete them?
They’re tied to apps that auto-create desktop shortcuts. Disable them in startup settings or within the app’s preferences.

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to remove icons from desktop Windows 11 — whether they’re shortcuts, system icons, or app leftovers. A clean desktop isn’t just visually appealing; it helps you stay focused and productive.

By using the methods above, you can customize your workspace to match your style — from a minimalist blank desktop to a neatly organized one.