To hide a system icon such as Recycle Bin or This PC, go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and clear its check box. To hide one file or shortcut, right-click it, select Properties, check Hidden and select OK.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 29, 2026.
Hide Recycle Bin, This PC or other system icons
- Select Start > Settings > Personalization > Themes.
- Select Desktop icon settings.
- Clear the check box for each icon you want to hide, such as Recycle Bin.
- Select OK.
Check the box again to bring the icon back.
Hide one file, folder or shortcut
- Right-click the icon on the desktop and select Properties.
- On the General tab, check Hidden.
- Select OK. For a folder, choose whether to hide the items inside it too.
The icon disappears from the desktop. Hidden doesn’t protect the file. Anyone who turns on hidden items in File Explorer can still see it.
- Open File Explorer and select Desktop on the left.
- Select View > Show > Hidden items. Hidden files now appear faded.
- Right-click the file, select Properties, clear Hidden and select OK.
- Select View > Show > Hidden items again to turn it back off.
Other ways to tidy the desktop
- Move files into a folder. Keep one folder on the desktop, or move files to Documents. See how to remove things from the desktop without deleting them.
- Hide everything for a moment. Right-click the desktop and select View > Show desktop icons to clear it. See where your desktop icons went if they don’t come back.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a shortcut instead?
See how to remove desktop shortcuts in Windows 11. Deleting a shortcut doesn’t remove the app.
Can I change an icon’s picture instead of hiding it?
Yes. See how to change desktop icons in Windows 11.
To add a system icon instead, see how to put a Control Panel icon on the desktop in Windows 11.
Microsoft’s reference is Customize the Desktop Icons in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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