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**Brink** · 04 Aug 2008

How to Hide a Folder or Shortcut Icon in Vista and Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to hide a Folder or Shortcut icon so only the text name shows.

Note

For a folder or shortcut on the Desktop, this looks best with a dark background image. You will not be able to do this with a protected system folder icon. For example: C:\Windows, C:\Program Files, C\Windows\System32, etc...

Warning

It is not recommened to also hide the Folder or Shortcut name text while hiding the icon. It will make it hard to see the folder or shortcut if you do. If you do, then you can press Ctrl+A to highlight everything in the window or desktop to see it.

For more about this, see: How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista and How to Hide or Show Desktop Icon Text in Vista

EXAMPLE: Folder and Shortcut Icon Before
NOTE: The left screenshot is for any folder except protected system folders. The right screenshot is for any shortcut file or folder.

EXAMPLE: Folder and Shortcut Icon Hidden
NOTE: The left screenshot is on the desktop, and the right screenshot is in Windows Explorer.

OPTION ONE

To Hide or Unhide a Folder Icon

1. Right click on a folder and click on Properties.

2. Click on the Customize tab. (See screenshot below)

3. To Hide the Folder Icon

A) Click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot above)

B) Select a blank icon (white space) and click on OK to apply. (See screenshot below)

C) Click on OK to apply. (See screenshot below step 2)

D) Go to step 5.

4. To Restore the Default Folder Icon

A) Click on the Restore Defaults button. (See screenshot below step 3B)

5. Repeat for any other folder icon you wish to hide.

OPTION TWO

To Hide or Unhide a Shortcut File or Folder Icon

1. Right click on a shortcut file or folder and click on Properties.

2. Click on the Shortcut tab. (See screenshot below)

3. To Hide the Shortcut File or Folder Icon

A) Click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot above)

B) Select a blank icon (white space) and click on OK to apply. (See screenshot below)

C) Click on OK to apply. (See screenshot below step 2)

D) Go to step 5.

4. To Restore the Default Folder Icon

A) Repeat step 3 and select the icon you had before.
NOTE: You may need to Browse to the .exe file for a file shortcut to select and restore it's icon.

5. Repeat for any other shortcut file or folder icon you wish to hide.

6. You may also wish to remove or restore the shortcut arrow overlay on the icon as well.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**bennys** · 08 Aug 2008

Sorry if I post this in the wrong tutorial section or wrong forum. I have a question...
When I right click on the desktop>New> a bunch of other system files and documents pops up in the context menu besides the usual ones such as Folder, Compressed (zipped) Folder, Briefcase, etc...
Please help me to delete them.

Thanks.

**Brink** · 08 Aug 2008

Hi Bennys,

Item can get added to the New context menu sometimes when you install programs that add to it. It involves editing the registry so I would not do this if you are not comfortable in the registry.

If you wish to pursue it, then this tutorial will show you how to. You will need to know the file extensions of the items listed in the New menu you want removed. Post a screenshot of the New menu items, and I will see what I can do to help make it easier for you.

New Menu - Context and File

Hope this helps,
Shawn

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