How to Remove the Blue "Quick access" Icon from the Desktop

Bulldog · 15 Jan 2018

In Windows 10, how do I permanently remove the 'Quick access' icon from my desktop? Here's what it looks like on my desktop:

Hopefully the following additional details will make it easier for someone to answer my question:

I'm not asking how to remove the Quick access icon from File Explorer; I'm asking how to remove it from my desktop.
The icon in question does not have a delete entry in its right-click menu, and dragging it over the Recycle Bin doesn't remove it.
The icon does not appear in Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, so it can't be de-selected by that method.
While I am using Google Chrome, I don't have the Visualization extention, and the icon in question appears even when all extensions are disabled.
I'm asking how to remove the icon permanently, because pressing the F5 key removes it temporarily. It comes back.

I don't know this for a fact, but it does seems that Microsoft is trying to force users to at least notice the Quick access icon.

Caledon Ken · 15 Jan 2018

Hi Bulldog

It would appear this question has been asked before and no real solution was found.

Here is that thread for reference. Maybe a member has since discovered a method.

Removing Quick Access

This member was out to remove it fully, I understand you were thinking just desktop.

Ken

Bulldog · 15 Jan 2018

Thanks very much for replying to my question. I appreciate the reference to the earlier post here, of which I was l already aware. I was hoping that in the months that have passed since that time, someone might have had the same issue as I and discovered a solution.

I do not have Quick access in File Explorer. I already removed that. (For some reason Microsoft doesn't capitalize the A.)

My question concerns the appearance of a Quick access icon on the desktop. To my knowledge Microsoft has exposed no control to remove this.

Caledon Ken · 15 Jan 2018

Agree and I think that is what the other member was trying to do. Hopefully another member will join with a real solution.

Brink · 15 Jan 2018

Hello Bulldog, :)

If you like, you might see if downloading and running the .bat file below may help.

Remove_Quick_Access_desktop_icon.bat

Contents of .bat file:

Code:

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel" /v "{679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6}" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f

taskkill /im explorer.exe /f & explorer.exe

Bulldog · 15 Jan 2018

Hi and thank you as well for your advice.

Before I apply your suggested solution, I just want to be sure of one thing: The GUID used in your suggestion {679f85cb-0220-4080-b29b-5540cc05aab6} has been commonly cited in solutions used to remove the Quick access icon from File Explorer while I am trying to remove it from my desktop. I just want to check with you, that you feel this registry edit will remove the Quick access icon from my desktop. I've already removed it from File Explorer.

Brink · 15 Jan 2018

It's the same GUID reference for Quick Access, but the registry location in the .bat is only for Desktop icons. It won't affect Quick Access in the navigation pane of File Explorer.

The .bat file sets to not show Quick Access on the Desktop. I'm hoping this may stop it showing for you.

Bulldog · 16 Jan 2018

Ah yes, I understand now. Well, alright, here goes. I'll know in a few days whether this does the trick and of course I'll let the group know.

pepanee · 16 Jan 2018

I've never had that icon on my Desktop.

I have set up a Windows 10 Installation Notes document to set my preferred settings whenever needed after a computer format, or when a big update happens (when a big update happens, many of my custom settings go back to default). So I can paste any of my notes that refer to "Quick Access" on here if necessary.

Yet hopefully the above solution, provided by Brink, solved the issue.

Bulldog · 18 Jan 2018

Two days have passed and no Quick access icon has appeared on my desktop. I'll call that a victory - for now; you never know what the 'softies are cooking up - and say my thanks to Brink for providing the fix.