Shortcut Arrow Icon - Change, Remove, or Restore in Windows 10

Brink · 16 Mar 2022

WXC said:

@Brink, or anyone that my offer help.

This Reg Edit/hack does not seem to work correctly for me.

Currently running... Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H2 19044.1586

I applied the Reg Edit, and at first it looked great, but upon looking closer, I could see remnants of the 'arrows' beneath my desktop icons.

I have my icons set to 'Small'

Enlarge the screenshot, to view what I'm writhing of...

Show Us Your Desktop [11]

Determined to find a solution, I reversed/removed the hack, and rebooted. At which time the 'Arrows' were back in full view, like this shot...

Show Us Your Desktop [11]

I again, reversed the hack, rebooted, applied the hack again, and had 'Black Squares' over my icons. (Sorry, I did not get a screenshot of that. But rest assured they were little black boxes.

Still determined to find a solution, I repeated the entire pross again. Remove hack, restore hack, rebooted, and finally got this...

Show Us Your Desktop [11]

So, thinking all was finally well, I shutdown the PC and went for a walk. Upon returning, I turn on the PC, only to find 'Black Squares', in place of icons, again.

One last time, I reversed everything (removed the hack), rebooted, and all is good... EXCEPT... I have the 'Arrows' that I so wanted to rid myself of.

I can certainly live with it, but is there a viable way to remove them, keep the gone, and not have the ''Black squares' appear every time I boot my PC? If I apply the hack again.

Sorry for the long post guys. Forgive my use of the word 'Hack', you guys know what I mean. I'm just at a loss here, and would appreciate any help you care to offer.

Thank you, for your patience in reading this. Any advice, would be greatly appreciated, as well.

Hello mate,

As a test, try the updated method below for Windows 11 to see how it works for you.

Remove Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum

WXC · 16 Mar 2022

If need be, I can go through the process again, and assuredly replicate the 'Black Squares' covering the Icons, and post a screenshot.

But my assumption is, you guys have seen them at some point in time.

Still, will gladly do so, if necessary to find a solution.

Thank you.

WXC · 16 Mar 2022

Brink said:

Hello mate,

As a test, try the updated method below for Windows 11 to see how it works for you.

Remove Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum

Thank you, Shawn.

Will do so now, and report back, when completed.

WXC · 16 Mar 2022

@Brink

Shawn, unfortunately it didn't work for me. Now instead of 'Black Squares' , I have this...

I suppose I'll just remove the Reg Edit, and live with the 'Arrows'.

~~~~~

EDIT ~~~ After numerous attempts, and much time. I am finally back to Icons with 'Arrows'. For the time being, I'll live with it.

Thank you Shawn, for attempting to help me. Very much appreciated!

Brink · 17 Mar 2022

WXC said:

@Brink

Shawn, unfortunately it didn't work for me. Now instead of 'Black Squares' , I have this...

I suppose I'll just remove the Reg Edit, and live with the 'Arrows'.

~~~~~

EDIT ~~~ After numerous attempts, and much time. I am finally back to Icons with 'Arrows'. For the time being, I'll live with it.

Thank you Shawn, for attempting to help me. Very much appreciated!

Sorry it didn't work out for you. Usually the issue is with the .ico file either not being unblocked, not the correct pixel size, or in a location causing access issues.

WXC · 17 Mar 2022

Brink said:

Sorry it didn't work out for you. Usually the issue is with the .ico file either not being unblocked, not the correct pixel size, or in a location causing access issues.

Thank you, Shawn.

I had it unblocked, and in C:\\Windows\\blank.ico. heck, who knows?! LOL

Worn out right now, but will give it another go, later.

Thank you for your effort!

akjudge · 19 Mar 2022

I tried what Brink suggested in his tutorial, but like you, it didn't work. This is what worked for me (which I discovered by accident).

I downloaded an old program I had used in Windows 7 that allowed me to control the Content Menu. The program was called Easy Content Menu (v1.6 from 2015)

I ran the program to adjust some of my Content Menu settings, then discovered that in the menu under Extras I could select Remove Shortcut Arrows. I decided what the heck, and tried it. It required a restart...

Low and behold --- no shortcut arrows on any of my desktop shortcuts.

You may want to try it. It seems to work and is much easier than the Tutorial.

Download Easy Context Menu - MajorGeeks

PS: Brink if this works maybe you would consider adding it to the Tutorial as another option?

ampws · 02 May 2022

I don't know what the problem is I have no problems using

%windir%\System32\imageres.dll,-17

In Shell Icons.

HDL · 26 Jun 2022

akjudge said:

I tried what Brink suggested in his tutorial, but like you, it didn't work. This is what worked for me (which I discovered by accident).

I downloaded an old program I had used in Windows 7 that allowed me to control the Content Menu. The program was called Easy Content Menu (v1.6 from 2015)

I ran the program to adjust some of my Content Menu settings, then discovered that in the menu under Extras I could select Remove Shortcut Arrows. I decided what the heck, and tried it. It required a restart...

Low and behold --- no shortcut arrows on any of my desktop shortcuts.

You may want to try it. It seems to work and is much easier than the Tutorial.

Download Easy Context Menu - MajorGeeks

PS: Brink if this works maybe you would consider adding it to the Tutorial as another option?

Do you know if this would work on Windows 11 machines as well?

- - - Updated - - -

ampws said:

I don't know what the problem is I have no problems using

In Shell Icons.

I did a manual Registry hack where the -17 above was -50. It did not work after the machine was turned off. It worked with the first reboot but not after shutting down. Do you know what the difference between the -17 here in this post and the -50 I found elsewhere on the WEB is?

Brink · 26 Jun 2022

Hello @HDL,

Hope this below helps.

Remove Shortcut Arrow Icon in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum