"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Windows XP and the Display - Desktop

Quickly Hide or Show Your Desktop Icons

SUMMARY: This tip lets you hide or show all of your Desktop Icons on your Windows XP machine.

Tired of icons clogging up your Windows XP Desktop and covering your wallpaper? Perhaps you'd like to temporarily remove all of the icons to clean up space while working on applications or admiring your wallpaper photo. You can do this and still have quick access to your icons later when needed.

1. Right-click an empty area of the Desktop and choose "Arrange Icons By".

2. Now, check or uncheck "Show Desktop Icons" as desired.

3. Wait a few seconds, and your icons should appear or disappear as selected!

If you are concerned about losing your desktop icons when performing this tip, you may wish to first backup your icons to another folder or removable media.


Toggling whether or not to show the Desktop icons on a Windows XP machine

Return to the Windows XP and the Display - Desktop page.

Print this tip


Get the Newsletter

blog comments powered by Disqus

Thanks For Sharing!



Newest Tips:

Microsoft Word 2010
W0rds w8th Numbers Pass the S0ellchecker! Google Gmail
Automatically Archive a Conversation you Respond to Digital Photography
[MODIFIED] Did Someone Get in the Way While Taking a Photo? Google Chrome
View Kittens and Pandas Everywhere!

Follow Us!

About MalekTips and the Author

The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >