Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Deleting or moving desktop icons

If you like using the desktop to access programs, files, or folders but there are extra icons that you don't want or need, you can delete or move individual icons. As you've seen, you can also hide or show common desktop icons for things such as the Recycle Bin, Computer, Control Panel, User's Files, and Network.

Consider the following before deleting or moving desktop icons:

• Desktop icons can be shortcuts to open programs or files located elsewhere on your computer, or they can be actual files or folders located in the desktop folder.
• Deleting a shortcut icon does not delete a program or file or uninstall a program; it just removes the icon from the desktop.
• Deleting a folder or file icon actually deletes the folder or file. If you don't want the folder or file icon on your desktop, move it to one of your libraries, such as Documents.
• If you accidentally delete a file or folder, you may be able to retrieve it by pressing the key combination Ctrl+Z (Undo) or opening the Recycle Bin.

A common desktop icon (Recycle Bin), a folder icon, and a picture file icon. You can identify a shortcut icon by the arrow in the lower-left corner.

To delete a desktop icon, follow these steps:

1. Right-click a desktop icon. A context menu appears.
   Desktop icon context menu allows you to delete an icon if you don't want it to appear on your desktop.
2. To delete a shortcut (an icon with an arrow in the lower-left corner), click Delete. A message appears clarifying that this only deletes the shortcut and does not uninstall the program.
   When you delete a program shortcut, Windows reminds you that this does not uninstall the program. This message is not displayed when you are deleting a browser shortcut to a website, because websites are not programs.
3. To permanently delete a folder or file, click Delete. A message is displayed to confirm that you want to send the folder or file to the Recycle Bin.
   When you delete a file or folder, Windows reminds you that this will place the item in the Recycle Bin.
4. To move a file or folder, click Cut, navigate to the folder you want to move it to (destination), and then click Paste in the destination folder.

Accessing your desktop with a toolbar

You can hide your desktop icons and still keep them handy for quick access:

1. Right-click the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Desktop.
   You can access the desktop icons from the taskbar by adding the desktop toolbar.
2. To access a desktop item from the taskbar, click the double angle brackets.
   The desktop icons are now available from the desktop toolbar in the taskbar.