How to Change, Remove, or Restore Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon in Windows 10
A shortcut is a link to an item (such as a file, folder, or app) on your PC. You can create shortcuts and then place them in a convenient location, such as on the desktop, so that you can easily access the item that the shortcut links to. Shortcuts can be distinguished from the original file by the arrow that appears overlayed on the icon.
This tutorial will show you how to change, remove, or restore the default shortcut arrow overlay on all shortcut icons for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
You must be signed in as an administrator to change the shortcut arrow icon.
You'll need to use a 24x24 pixel icon for Windows 11.
If you have a custom .ico file you would like to share, then please feel free to upload and post it here.
Contents
- Option One: To Change, Remove, or Restore Shortcut Arrow using a REG file
- Option Two: To Change, Remove, or Restore Shortcut Arrow in Registry Editor
1 Do step 2 (remove arrow), step 3 (default arrow), step 4 (classic arrow), step 5 (large arrow), step 6 (small down arrow), or step 7 (large down arrow) below for what icon you want for a shortcut overlay.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file you want to use below, and go to step 8 below.
(transparent with outline)
Transparent_outline_shortcut_overlay.reg
Download
OR
(transparent - see TIP box below to get transparent.ico file)
Transparent_shortcut_overlay.reg
Download
OR
(blank - see TIP box below to get blank.ico file)
Blank_shortcut_overlay.reg
Download
If you downloaded the Transparent_shortcut_overlay.reg or Blank_shortcut_overlay.reg file above, you will also need to download the transparent.ico (48x48 pixel) or Blank.ico (24x24 pixel) icon file.
You will then need to unblock the downloaded transparent.ico or Blank.ico file, and move it into the "C:\Windows\System32" folder.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 8 below.
Restore_default_shortcut_arrow.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 8 below.
Classic_shortcut_arrow.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 8 below.
Large_shortcut_arrow.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 8 below.
Small_down_arrow.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 8 below.
Large_down_arrow.reg
Download
8 Save the .reg file to your Desktop.
9 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
10 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
11 Restart explorer to apply.
If the shortcut overlay icon shows as a solid black square, then sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply instead.
12 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Download and merge the .reg file in step 3 of OPTION ONE above to reset the registry back to default before getting started below.
2 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
4 In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
If you do not have the Shell Icons key, then right click or press and hold on the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type Shell Icons for the name, and press Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons
5 In the right pane of Shell Icons, double click/tap on the 29 string value to modify it.
If you do not have the 29 string value, then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type 29 for the name, and press Enter.
If you want to restore the default shortcut arrow overlay icon, then delete the 29 string value.
6 Type in the full path of your custom .ico file within quotes, OR copy and paste the data value in the table below for what overlay icon you would like to use, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
If you like, you can download the transparent.ico (48x48 pixel) or Blank.ico (24x24 pixel) icon file that doesn't have an outline.
For the best results, unblock the downloaded transparent.ico or Blank.ico file, and move it into the "C:\Windows\System32" folder.
Shortcut Overlay Icon Data value Transparent with outline (leave value blank)
OR
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll,-17
OR (If used downloaded .ico file above)
%windir%\System32\transparent.ico
%windir%\System32\Blank.ico%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-30 %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-16769 %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-232 %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-231
7 Restart explorer to apply.
If the shortcut overlay icon shows as a solid black square, then sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply instead.
8 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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Shortcut Arrow Icon - Change, Remove, or Restore in Windows 10
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New #1
Hi, I see you do lots of tutorials that are really good, is there any way to remove the shield overlay or replace it with blank.ico maybe with regedit in a similar way to how the shortcut overlay can be removed. I really hate how its covering up 1/4 of my icons on the desktop.
I know about the elevated shortcut method and while this did remove the shield, the executable did not work properly afterward, its a launcher to an online game and after using the elevated shortcut it started downloading files and did not start properly. Running the launcher from the original location also did not work until the task was deleted, an error message would show saying "versions can't be compared". I have also turned off uac to the minimum setting and reset the icon cache to no change, and checking the run as administrator in compatibility but nothing is getting rid of the shield.
Thank you for your time
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New #2
Hello Lixun, and welcome to Ten Forums.
I'll add it to my list, and will let you know if/when I get one made for it. :)
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New #3
Brink, thanks for these great downloads. They're very useful and I'm storing them in a folder for future use in case I need them.
You refer to a black solid square in your post. I'm not sure if that's what I'm getting now I've removed the arrow but on every shortcut icon I can now see a very thin pale square the size of the whole icon that seems to be in the background and it does seem to be transparent. Even after restarting my PC, it is still there. Any ideas on how to remove it?
RichLast edited by RichStone; 01 Aug 2015 at 14:34.
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New #4
Hello Rich, and welcome to Ten Forums.
Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing this to see what it may be. :)
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...en-forums.html
For now, use a medium icon view on the desktop to see if that helps.
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New #5
Here you go. It's quite clear on the small icons so I've left my desktop as it is.
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New #6
Ah, ok. It's from the icon you referenced not supporting that size properly. Selecting a different icon that does, or using medium icons view should sort it.
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New #7
I've now tried medium and large icons and it's still there, although the box remains the same size...
I used the download you provided to set the clear icon so I'm not sure where I could find another that's suitable.
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Shortcut Arrow Icon - Change, Remove, or Restore in Windows 10
How to Change, Remove, or Restore Shortcut Arrow Overlay Icon in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Customization
01 Dec 2024
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