Having a clean and organized desktop on your Windows 11 PC can enhance both aesthetics and performance. If your desktop is cluttered with too many icons, it can be challenging to find the applications you need quickly. Moreover, a crowded desktop can consume valuable system resources, potentially slowing down your computer. Fortunately, Windows 11 provides simple ways to hide specific desktop icons without removing them entirely.

Hide specific desktop icons using personalization settings

To hide certain icons on your Windows 11 desktop while keeping others visible, you can utilize the Personalization settings. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Right-click on an empty area of your desktop. From the context menu that appears, select the 'Personalize' option at the bottom.

Step 2: In the Settings window that opens, you should be in the 'Personalization' section. From here, click on 'Themes' in the right pane.

Step 3: Scroll down to find the 'Desktop icon settings' option under the 'Related Settings' section, and click on it.

Step 4: A window titled 'Desktop Icon Settings' will appear. Here, you'll see a list of common desktop icons such as 'Computer', 'User's Files', 'Network', 'Recycle Bin', and 'Control Panel'. To hide an icon, uncheck the box next to it. Once you've deselected the icons you wish to hide, click 'OK' to apply the changes.

Step 5: The icons you unchecked will now be hidden from your desktop. If you decide to make them visible again, repeat these steps and check the boxes next to the icons you want to display.

Remove shortcut icons from the desktop

If your desktop has shortcut icons for applications that you don't frequently use, you can remove them to declutter your workspace. This method deletes the shortcut icon but does not uninstall the application.

Step 1: Locate the shortcut icon on your desktop that you want to remove. Shortcut icons usually have a small arrow at the bottom left corner.

Step 2: Right-click on the icon and select 'Delete' from the context menu. Alternatively, you can click on the icon and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

The icon will be removed from your desktop. To access the application in the future, you can use the Start menu or create a new shortcut if necessary.

By customizing which icons appear on your Windows 11 desktop, you can keep your workspace organized and efficient. Hiding unnecessary icons not only declutters your screen but can also contribute to a smoother and more responsive system experience.