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

I quite like the shortcut arrows, they are a neat way of indicating a shortcut. So much so, that I'd really like to get rid of the default text "Shortcut to ..." yes I know I can rename them.

 

I think this .reg file still works with Win10:

RemoveShortcutText.reg

 

Yep, this below will do it. *Smile

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

 

Brink, this may be too elaborate/complex for your tutorial, but I found a solution.

Instead of using one of the icons in imageres.dll, I used a blank .ico file. Either download this one here or create your own transparent 48×48 icon and name it/place it where you want. I followed the old tradition of putting the Blank.ico file in the C:\Windows directory and then changed that 29 string value in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons to C:\Windows\Blank.ico,0 (Of course, if your icon file is named something else and/or stored elsewhere, modify the path in the string value accordingly.)

Presto! No more little rectangles on the shotrcuts ... ANY of the shortcuts! *Smile

 

Thank you, but you should no longer have the transparent outline using the updated .reg file in step 1 of OPTION ONE.

 

But, I *did* still have the transparent outline on the .url shortcuts -- see my post #28. (Or, did I once again spectacularly misinterpret the obvious?) With the Blank.ico file it's gone.

 

Even *with* the IsShortcut string value in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile, simply adding the 29 string with the Blank.ico path to the Shell Icons key does it all.

i.e. Only two steps needed:
(1) Download/create the Blank.ico file
(2) add a 29 string to the Shell Icons key with the path to the .ico file as its value

At least, that's how it works on my system, starting with arrow overlays on all the shortcuts. I just did it on my notebook computer, as well.

 

Odd. It doesn't do it for me anymore using step 2 in OPTION ONE.

 

Do you have any .url shortcuts on your desktop? They are the only ones for which it didn't work.

 

Ok. I've updated the .reg file for step 2 in OPTION ONE. If you like, please try again. *Smile

 

It's still a case of needing to do OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO. Without also adding the 29 string value to the Shell Icon key (i.e. just doing OPTION ONE) the .url shortcuts still have the shortcut arrow:





And, using the %windir%\System32\imageres.dll,-17 value still leaves the square transparent border on the .url shortcuts. Using the C:\Windows\Blank.ico,0 value does not.

 

Did you download and try only the new Remove_shortcut_overlay.reg file in OPTION ONE?

 

Yes, this one:

Code: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; Created by: Shawn Brink ; Shortcut Arrow Icon - Change, Remove, or Restore in Windows 10 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IE.AssocFile.URL] "IsShortcut"=- [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile] "IsShortcut"=-[/quote]

 

Yep. I forgot to add the line below back to it. *Redface

Updated again. How does it work for you now?

Code: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons] "29"=-[/quote]

 

Add:
Code: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut] "IsShortcut"=-[/quote] And, we have a winner! *Smile