Windows 10: How may I limit a user to only see selected desktop application ICONs.

Hello,

Dell XPS 8900 running Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - 10.0.18363 Build 18363

I just added a second user to my Windows 10 PC but I only want the new user to view a subset of the application desktop ICONs. Both ids can see all of the application desktop ICONs.

Under C:\Users, I see the following users: Default, Mary, Public and Thomas

User Default has an empty Desktop folder

User Mary has a Desktop folder that only contains Microsoft Edge

User Thomas originally did not have a Desktop folder. I defined one but it is empty.

User Public has a Desktop folder with many ICONs.

Doing a couple of Google searches, I thought that I could move most of the Public ICONs to the Thomas User, but this only results in me not seeing the ICONs for user Thomas

One additional item which I do not know if it matters is that my PC crashed, but I was able to recover by using a Recovery Drive (Never fully understood the power of the Recovery Drive until my crash)
Prior to the crash, the user id of MARY only showed a subset of the desktop ICONs. Whatever I did or the system did to accomplish this is no longer remembered.

I would like to have user Thomas see all of the ICONs but Mary to only see a subset of them. Would anyone know how this may be accomplished?

Thanks in advance

Stu

:)

 

Installing Applications to Select User Accounts

Hi Lucas,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are trying to avoid the access of all the application in all users. We will help you try resolving this issue.

I suggest you to check while installing any software it gives an option to install on all users or any particular user only.

However this would be application specific to manufacturer.

You can try following the below steps also and check if it helps.

• When you install the software or an application, it makes a shortcut or copy to the public folder where all the users can access the application.
• Open C:\ Drive and select Users.
• Select Public, select the files which you don't want to be used by other users and delete the files or Cut and paste in Admin account folder.

Note: To perform this steps be logged into Admin user.

Keep us posted to help you better.

 

Remove Linux Desktop Icons

I am not sure whether this will work (Ubuntu does not have icons like that on the desktop by default), but I suggest opening the trash bin and sweeping the icons into the window showing the trash bin.

 

How can i restore my accidental deletion of about 1/2 of my desktop icons

Hi,

Since your desktop icons are not in the Recycle Bin, we suggest that you create a new shortcut for your preferred applications. Follow the steps below:

• Right-click on your desktop > New > Shortcut.
• Enter the path of the application you want to create an icon or select Browse... > click OK > Next > Finish.

Note: If the deleted icons on your desktops are not shortcuts, but are saved files, it may be possible to retrieve them if they are saved in OneDrive.

Let us know if you have other inquiries.