How To Remove The Arrow From Shortcuts

by Jason Faulkner on Jun 7, 2009 | 11 comments

By default whenever you create a shortcut in Windows, a small arrow is placed on the shortcut icon to indicate this is indeed a shortcut. If you would like to remove this arrow, you can do so easily by following the applicable instructions for your OS:

Both articles show you how to make a registry change and offer a utility which will do this for you. Just go with whatever you are more comfortable with.

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David Massar
On the “How To Remove The Arrow From Shortcuts” article. You should warn people that in the process of removing the arrow that it will rearrange all the icons on your desktop. I have over 30 and it took a while to get them back to the order I had before.
Tom
The 1st thing that came to my mind was “YTF would I want to remove the shortcut arrow from an Icon i established”? When I no longer need it, the arrow says to me, It’s a shortcut, just dump it. No fear of deleteing an ,exe file I might need later. Why is this not a worthless “TIP”? Sure hope you answer this one or maybe a follow up “TIP”
True Falcon
For even greater comfort on XP, install TweakUI (if you haven’t already) http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe and go to Explorer/Shortcut, select “None” under Shortcut Overlay and click apply and ok. Note that custom icons may lose their position on a desktop – you might need to rearrange them.
stephen sniegocki
Dave,
Why do we need to remove these arrows? It’s just cosmetic isn’t it?
Please explain?
Steve
Jason Faulkner
Guys, a tip is just that… a suggestion or a tidbit you might find interesting.
If you don’t like it or it doesn’t apply to you just ignore it.

Mark
Nice trick. I may not try it myself, but it’s good to know you can do it.
Some people are just too touchy. Keep up the tips and tricks!
stephen sniegocki
I was just interested in knowing why? You could elaborate a little on what it would be good for. I know I appreciate a lot of the tips PCMECH gives out. I have learned a bunch of stuff from you guy’s. Inquiring minds want to know.
Steve

Tom
“If you don’t like it or it doesn’t apply to you just ignore it.” A tip is what Risley pays you for, not an attitude when you’re queried. The question remains, Why would you want to remove the “ARROW”?

Mark
There are times I have wondered how to remove the arrow because they are annoying. Perhaps it is only aesthetics, but I may try this tip myself to clean up my desktop.
I understand there are good reasons for wanting arrows to remain on icons, but I have no use for them.
A better question for debate would be “Why should the arrow even show up on shortcuts I create anyway?” All desktop icons are shortcuts.

lespaul20
Tom – If you like the arrows keep them. Some people don’t like looking at a unique Icon that has an addition that Windows added.
If someone doesn’t know the difference between an Icon and an .exe then they probably won’t be doing this. Who keeps .exe that they can’t reinstall or download on their desktops?
Robert
The less graphics crap on my desktop or anywhere else,…the better.I want performance,not pretty little pictures.