Drop shadows under desktop icon labels and around Windows Explorer windows can make text harder to read, especially on light backgrounds, and sometimes affect system performance on lower-end hardware. Disabling these effects results in sharper icon labels and a more minimal desktop appearance. The following instructions present the most effective methods to remove drop shadows for icon labels and shadow effects from Windows Explorer in Windows 11, including troubleshooting steps for persistent issues.

Disable Drop Shadows for Icon Labels via Performance Options

Step 1: Open the Performance Options dialog. Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog, then type SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe and press Enter. This takes you directly to the Visual Effects tab of Performance Options.

Step 2: In the Visual Effects tab, locate the option labeled Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop. Uncheck this box to disable the drop shadow effect beneath desktop icon text.

Step 3: Click Apply, then OK to save your changes. For the changes to take effect, restart your computer or sign out and sign back in. If you do not see immediate results, proceed to restart the Windows Explorer process using Task Manager.

If drop shadows persist after these steps, revisit the Visual Effects tab and also uncheck Animate controls and elements inside windows. This setting can sometimes interfere with the drop shadow toggle.

Remove Shadow Effect from Windows Explorer Windows

Step 1: Open the Performance Options dialog as described above.

Step 2: In the Visual Effects tab, find and uncheck the option labeled Show shadows under windows. This removes the shadow border around Explorer and other application windows.

Step 3: Click Apply and OK. Restart your computer or sign out and back in to apply the change.

Disable Drop Shadows for Icon Labels Using the Registry Editor

If the Performance Options method fails to remove drop shadows, you can directly edit the Windows registry:

Step 1: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. Approve any User Account Control prompts.

Step 2: Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Step 3: In the right pane, locate the ListviewShadow DWORD value. Double-click it and set its value data to 0 to disable drop shadows for icon labels. Click OK to save.

Step 4: Close the Registry Editor. Restart your computer or log out and log back in for the change to take effect.

Caution: Editing the registry can affect system stability. Consider backing up your registry settings before making changes.

Restart Windows Explorer to Apply Changes

Sometimes, changes to visual effects do not take effect until Windows Explorer is restarted. To do this:

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

Step 2: Under the Processes tab, locate Windows Explorer. Right-click it and select Restart. This refreshes the desktop and should apply your visual effect changes immediately.

Change Desktop Background to a Solid Color

In certain cases, especially with specific Windows builds or after updates, drop shadows may persist due to background image interactions. Switching your desktop background to a solid color can resolve the issue:

Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.

Step 2: In the left sidebar, click Background. Under Personalize your background, choose Solid color from the dropdown.

Step 3: Select a color tile to set as your background. Close Settings and verify that drop shadows are removed.

Troubleshooting Persistent Drop Shadows

If drop shadows remain after following the above steps, consider these additional actions:

  • Check for recently installed Windows updates, especially optional or preview updates, as known bugs can interfere with visual effect toggles.
  • If a problematic update (such as KB5030310) is installed, uninstall it via Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Updates and restart your computer.
  • Switch your desktop theme or background image and repeat the steps above, as background settings can sometimes override drop shadow preferences.
  • If registry and visual effects settings do not work, raise feedback through the Windows Feedback Hub to alert Microsoft of persistent bugs.

Disabling drop shadows for icon labels and window borders in Windows 11 results in clearer text and a cleaner workspace. If the standard settings do not work immediately, restarting Explorer or adjusting registry values usually resolves the issue.