Icons - Remove and Restore

Icons - Remove and Restore

This article explains how to remove and restore the default Desktop icons such as Inbox, Windows Internet Explorer, and Recycle Bin.  How to Remove and Restore Default Desktop Icons and Windows System Tray Icons.

To delete an icon from your desktop step through the sub-keys until you find the key representing the icon you want to remove. Delete the sub-key and the icon should disappear after your press F5 to refresh the desktop.

To add an icon to your desktop create a new sub-key named using the CLSID from the table below and the icon should appear after your press F5 to refresh the desktop. Below are a list of common IDs: Description CLSID

Administrative Tools	{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
Briefcase	{85BBD92O-42A0-1O69-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Control Panel	{21EC2O2O-3AEA-1O69-A2DD-08002b30309d}
Fonts	{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524152}
History	{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
Inbox	{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Microsoft Network	{00028B00-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
My Computer	{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
My Documents	{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
Network Computers	{1f4de370-d627-11d1-ba4f-00a0c91eedba}
Network Connections	{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
Printers and Faxes	{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Programs Folder	{7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a}
Recycle Bin	{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Scanners and Cameras	{E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD}
Scheduled Tasks	{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Start Menu Folder	{48e7caab-b918-4e58-a94d-505519c795dc}
Temporary Internet Files	{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
Web Folders	{BDEADF00-C265-11d0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}

Note: Not all icons can be successfully placed on your desktop. Right-click on the icon to display the options available.
Key:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

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