Are you having trouble getting rid of those pesky shortcuts on your desktop? It can be frustrating to have them cluttering up your desktop and preventing you from easily navigating to the files and folders you need. Fortunately, in Windows 10, it’s easy to remove shortcuts from the desktop. In this article, we’ll show you how to quickly and easily remove shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10. Removing Shortcuts from Desktop Windows 10: Right-click on the shortcut you want to remove. Select Delete from the menu. Click Yes to confirm the removal. Overview of Removing Shortcuts from Desktop on Windows 10 Removing shortcuts from the desktop on Windows 10 is a great way to declutter your computer’s main workspace. Deleting a shortcut from the desktop is easy and quick, and you have a few options when it comes to removing them. In this article, you will learn how to delete shortcuts from the desktop in Windows 10. Using the Mouse to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop The most straightforward way to remove a shortcut from your desktop is to use your mouse. All you have to do is right-click on the shortcut, then select ‘Delete’. This will delete the shortcut from your desktop. If you don’t want to delete the shortcut permanently, you can also select ‘Cut’ from the same menu. This will remove the shortcut from your desktop, but it will still be available in the clipboard. You can then paste the shortcut in another location, such as a folder or on the taskbar. Using the Keyboard to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop You can also use the keyboard to remove a shortcut from your desktop. All you have to do is select the shortcut by pressing the ‘Tab’ key, then press the ‘Delete’ key. This will delete the shortcut from your desktop. If you don’t want to delete the shortcut permanently, you can also press the ‘Ctrl’ and ‘X’ keys to cut the shortcut from your desktop. This will remove the shortcut from your desktop, but it will still be available in the clipboard. You can then paste the shortcut in another location, such as a folder or on the taskbar. Using the Recycle Bin to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop If you have accidentally deleted a shortcut from your desktop and want to retrieve it, you can do so by using the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is a special folder on your computer where deleted files are stored. To retrieve the shortcut, open the Recycle Bin and locate the shortcut. Once you have located the shortcut, you can select it and click ‘Restore’ to put it back on your desktop. Using Shortcut Properties to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop If you want to delete a shortcut from your desktop but don’t want to delete the file or program it points to, you can use the shortcut’s properties. To do this, right-click on the shortcut and select ‘Properties’. In the properties window, select the ‘Shortcut’ tab. Here, you will find an option to delete the shortcut. Select this option and click ‘OK’ to delete the shortcut from your desktop. Using the Command Line to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop If you want to delete a shortcut from your desktop but don’t want to use the mouse or keyboard, you can use the command line. To do this, open the command prompt by typing ‘cmd’ in the search box. Once the command prompt is open, type ‘del’ followed by the path to the shortcut you want to delete. For example, if the shortcut is located on your desktop, you can type ‘del C:\Users\username\Desktop\shortcut.lnk’. This will delete the shortcut from your desktop. Using a Third-Party Tool to Remove Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop If you want to delete a shortcut from your desktop but don’t want to use any of the methods mentioned above, you can use a third-party tool. There are many third-party tools available that can help you delete a shortcut from your desktop. These tools are usually free and easy to use. All you have to do is download and install the tool, then select the shortcut you want to delete and click ‘Delete’. Few Frequently Asked Questions 1. How do I remove a shortcut from Desktop in Windows 10? To remove a shortcut from the Desktop in Windows 10, right-click on the shortcut and select Delete from the menu that appears. Alternatively, you can select the shortcut and press the Delete key on the keyboard. This will remove the shortcut from the Desktop, but the associated file or folder will remain. 2. How do I delete a shortcut without deleting the file? To delete a shortcut without deleting the file or folder associated with it, right-click on the shortcut and select Delete from the menu that appears. This will remove the shortcut from the Desktop, but the associated file or folder will remain. Alternatively, you can select the shortcut and press the Delete key on the keyboard. 3. What happens when I delete a shortcut from the Desktop? When you delete a shortcut from the Desktop in Windows 10, the shortcut is removed from view but the associated file or folder will remain in its original location. Deleting a shortcut does not delete the file or folder it points to. 4. How do I prevent shortcuts from being created on the Desktop? To prevent shortcuts from being created on the Desktop, you can use the Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor to disable the ‘Create shortcut on the desktop’ option. To do this, open the Group Policy Editor and navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Template -> Windows Components -> File Explorer, then locate the ‘Create shortcut on the desktop’ setting and disable it. 5. Is it possible to hide shortcuts on the Desktop? Yes, it is possible to hide shortcuts on the Desktop. To do this, right-click on the shortcut and select Properties from the menu that appears. On the Shortcut tab, select the Hidden checkbox. This will prevent the shortcut from being displayed on the Desktop, but it will still be accessible from the File Explorer. 6. How do I restore a deleted shortcut to the Desktop? To restore a deleted shortcut to the Desktop, open the File Explorer and navigate to the location of the associated file or folder. Right-click on the file or folder and select Create shortcut from the menu that appears. This will create a shortcut for the file or folder on the Desktop. In conclusion, removing shortcuts from the desktop in Windows 10 is easy and straightforward. With the steps outlined above, you can quickly and easily remove any shortcut from the desktop without having to reinstall the application or manually delete the shortcut file. Having an organized desktop can help you focus on what is important and make it easier to find your applications quickly.