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How to Remove Shortcuts From Desktop Windows 10?

Are you overwhelmed by the number of shortcuts on your desktop? Do you want to clean up your desktop for it to look more organized and efficient? If yes, then you have come to the right place! In this tutorial, we will show you step-by-step instructions on how to remove shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10. So, let’s get started!

Removing Shortcuts from your Desktop (Windows 10)

Windows 10 is the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system and it comes with a number of features and options that allow you to customize your desktop. One such option is the ability to create and remove shortcuts on your desktop. Shortcuts are a great way of quickly accessing your most used programs and files, but they can also take up a lot of space and clutter your desktop. This guide will show you how to quickly and easily remove shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10.

Using the Context Menu to Delete a Shortcut

The quickest and easiest way to delete a shortcut from your desktop is to use the context menu. To do this simply right-click on the shortcut and select “Delete” from the context menu. This will delete the shortcut and remove it from your desktop.

If you want to delete multiple shortcuts at once, you can do this by selecting the shortcuts you want to delete and pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard. This will delete all of the selected shortcuts and remove them from your desktop.

Using the Control Panel to Delete Shortcuts

If you want to delete all of the shortcuts from your desktop at once, you can do this using the Control Panel. To do this, open the Control Panel and click on the “System and Security” link.

Deleting Shortcuts from the Desktop Folder

Once you’re in the System and Security window, click on the “System” link. This will open the System window. From here, click on the “Advanced System Settings” link. In the Advanced System Settings window, click on the “Environment Variables” button.

Deleting Shortcuts from the Start Menu

The Environment Variables window will open. Here, you need to scroll down until you find the “User variables for ” section. Here, you will find the “Start Menu” variable. Click on this variable and then click on the “Edit” button. This will open the “Edit User Variable” window.

In the “Edit User Variable” window, check the “Start Menu” checkbox and then click on the “Browse” button. This will open the “Browse For Folder” window. Here, you need to navigate to the folder where your shortcuts are stored. Once you’ve found the folder, select it and click on the “OK” button.

This will open the “Start Menu” folder. Here, you can simply select the shortcuts you want to delete and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard. This will delete all of the selected shortcuts and remove them from your desktop.

Using PowerShell to Delete Shortcuts

If you want to delete all of the shortcuts from your desktop at once, you can do this using PowerShell. To do this, open a PowerShell window and run the following command:

Get-ChildItem C:\Users\\Desktop\*.lnk | Remove-Item

This command will delete all of the shortcuts from your desktop.

Conclusion

Removing shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10 is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you want to delete a single shortcut or multiple shortcuts, there is a simple solution available to you. Using the context menu, the Control Panel, or PowerShell, you can quickly and easily delete your shortcuts and keep your desktop clutter-free.

Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is a shortcut?

A shortcut is a link to a program, file, folder, or web page on your computer. You can create shortcuts and then place them on your desktop, taskbar, or Start menu for easy access. Shortcuts make it easier and faster to open the programs, files, and folders you use often.

Q2. How do I create a shortcut on my desktop?

To create a shortcut on your desktop, right-click an empty space on your desktop and select “New” from the drop-down menu. Then, select “Shortcut” from the list and enter the location of the program, file, folder, or web page you want to link to. Finally, click “Next” and enter a name for the shortcut. The shortcut will now appear on your desktop.

Q3. How do I remove a shortcut from my desktop?

To remove a shortcut from your desktop, right-click the shortcut and select “Delete” from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can select the shortcut and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard. The shortcut will be removed from your desktop.

Q4. Is there an easier way to remove multiple shortcuts from my desktop?

Yes, you can select multiple shortcuts at once and then press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove them. To select multiple shortcuts, hold down the “Ctrl” key while clicking each of the shortcuts you want to remove. When you’ve selected all the shortcuts, press the “Delete” key on your keyboard and they will be removed.

Q5. Are there any other ways to remove shortcuts from my desktop?

Yes, you can also remove shortcuts from your desktop by dragging them to the Recycle Bin. To do this, click and hold the shortcut and then drag it to the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. The shortcut will be removed from your desktop and placed in the Recycle Bin.

Q6. What should I do if I want to restore a shortcut I’ve removed from my desktop?

If you’ve removed a shortcut from your desktop and want to restore it, you can do so by opening the Recycle Bin and dragging the shortcut back onto your desktop. Alternatively, you can create a new shortcut with the same location as the original shortcut.

Conclusion: Removing shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10 is an easy process. All you need to do is right-click on the shortcut and select the ‘Delete’ option. Alternatively, you can use the ‘Rename’ option to change the name of the shortcut and make it easier to locate. With these simple steps, you can quickly remove any unwanted shortcuts from your desktop in Windows 10.