How to Remove Shortcuts From Desktop Windows 10?
Are you tired of seeing shortcuts of programs and apps that you never use on your desktop? If so, you're not alone! Many Windows 10 users experience the same issue. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to clean up your desktop and remove these shortcuts. In this article, we will discuss how to remove shortcuts from your desktop on Windows 10 and make it look neat again.
Removing Shortcuts from Desktop Windows 10: To remove a shortcut from the desktop, right-click the shortcut and select Delete from the context menu. You can also select the shortcut and press the Delete key on your keyboard. If you don't want to permanently delete the shortcut, you can also drag and drop it to a different location, such as a folder on the desktop.
How to Clear Shortcuts from Desktop in Windows 10?
Having too many shortcuts on the desktop of your Windows 10 PC can be distracting and messy. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove these shortcuts and keep your desktop looking neat and organized.
In this article, we’ll discuss the steps to do this, including how to delete a single shortcut, how to delete multiple shortcuts, and how to clear the desktop completely.
Deleting a Single Shortcut
Perhaps the easiest way to delete a shortcut from your Windows 10 desktop is to simply right-click on it and select “Delete” from the menu that appears. This will delete the shortcut, but the original file or folder that the shortcut was linked to will remain on your computer.
If you want to delete both the shortcut and the original file or folder, you can do so by selecting “Delete” from the same menu. This will move both the shortcut and the original file or folder to the Recycle Bin.
Deleting Multiple Shortcuts
If you want to delete multiple shortcuts from your desktop, you can do so by selecting the shortcuts you want to delete and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard. This will move the selected shortcuts to the Recycle Bin.
You can also select multiple shortcuts by clicking and dragging your mouse over the shortcuts, or by holding down the Ctrl key while selecting each shortcut.
Clearing the Desktop Completely
If you want to remove all of the shortcuts from your desktop in one go, you can do so by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “Sort by > Clear Desktop”.
This will remove all of the shortcuts from your desktop, but the original files or folders will remain on your computer.
Restoring Shortcuts
If you delete a shortcut and then change your mind, you can easily restore it from the Recycle Bin. Simply open the Recycle Bin, select the shortcut you want to restore, and click the “Restore” button at the top of the window. The shortcut will be restored to its original location on your desktop.
Preventing Shortcuts from Appearing
If you don’t want shortcuts to appear on your desktop, you can prevent them from appearing by disabling the “Show desktop icons” option in the Desktop Icons settings.
To do this, right-click on the desktop, select “Display settings”, and then select the “Desktop Icons” tab. Uncheck the “Show desktop icons” option, and the shortcuts will no longer appear on your desktop.
Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Desktop Shortcut?
A desktop shortcut is a pointer to a file, folder, or program located on your computer. These shortcuts make it easier to access a program or open a folder without having to navigate through the entire file directory.
Shortcuts typically have an arrow icon on the bottom left corner of the icon, indicating that it is a shortcut.
How Do I Create a Desktop Shortcut?
Creating a desktop shortcut is very easy. All you need to do is locate the file or program you want to create a shortcut for.
Then, right-click on the file or program and select “Create Shortcut” from the context menu that appears. The shortcut will then appear on your desktop.
How Do I Remove a Desktop Shortcut?
To remove a desktop shortcut in Windows 10, right-click on the shortcut and select “Delete” from the context menu.
You will then be asked to confirm that you want to delete the shortcut. Once you have confirmed, the shortcut will be removed from your desktop.
What Happens When I Remove a Shortcut?
Removing a shortcut from your desktop does not delete the file or program that the shortcut was pointing to.
It only removes the shortcut from your desktop. The file or program will still be in its original location and can be accessed by navigating to the folder.
Can I Restore a Deleted Shortcut?
Yes, you can restore a deleted shortcut, but only if you have a backup copy of the shortcut. If you do not have a backup copy, then the shortcut is lost and cannot be restored.
What is the Difference Between Deleting and Uninstalling a Program?
The difference between deleting and uninstalling a program is that deleting a program only removes the shortcut from your desktop, while uninstalling a program removes the program and all its associated files from your computer. Deleting a program does not uninstall the program, so the program can still be accessed from its original location. Uninstalling a program removes the program and all its files from your computer.
How to Add or Remove Desktop Icons in Windows 10?
Removing shortcuts from your desktop can be a straightforward process if you are using Windows 10. By following the above steps, you should have no problem deleting shortcuts from your desktop. This can help to keep your desktop organized and ensure that you don't have any unnecessary shortcuts cluttering up your space. With this knowledge in mind, you should now have no problem managing the shortcuts that you have on your desktop in Windows 10.
Conclusion
Removing shortcuts from your Windows 10 desktop is a quick and easy process, and it can help keep your desktop looking neat and organized.
Whether you want to delete a single shortcut, multiple shortcuts, or clear the desktop completely, you can easily do so by following the steps outlined in this article.