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Windows 7

Remove Shortcut Text When Creating Shortcuts

SUMMARY: Remove the text "- Shortcut" on newly-created shortcuts in Windows 7.

In Windows 7, when you create a shortcut to an icon such as a folder, program, document, etc., Windows illustrates that the icon is a shortcut by attaching a small arrow to the icon and placing the text " - Shortcut" at the end of the icon's name.

If desired, this text can be removed via a Registry Edit.

Performing a registry edit incorrectly can cause damage to your machine including causing the computer to not boot into Windows!

Standard disclaimers apply...

1. Open the Registry Editor. Click the Start button, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. If a User Account Control dialog box appears, click "Yes".

3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer

4. Double-click the name "link", changing its value to 00 00 00 00.

Changing the name "link" to remove shortcut text in Windows 7

5. Close the Registry Editor.

6. Save all open files and reboot your machine. Logging off and back on does not seem to work.

Now when you create new shortcuts (this does not affect existing shortcuts), the suffix " - Shortcut" should disappear.

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.

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1. Christian (09/01/2009 14:11:05)

Note that explorer.exe cannot be running when you set this key; if it is, the value of this key will be reset. Use Task Manager to end the explorer.exe process, make the registry change above, and then restart explorer.exe, and all should be well.

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2. Andrew Malek (09/01/2009 16:41:13)

Hello Christian,

Thanks for the comment. You're right; it seems that if you do anything via Explorer (such as create a shortcut), the key gets reset.

However, if you do not have any open files before performing this tweak and *immediately* shut down, it may not get reset (it didn't for me on a Win7 Ult RTM machine).