This tutorial will show you how to add or remove a File Explorer Home desktop icon for your account or all users in Windows 11.
Home is the default homepage of File Explorer (Win+E) that allows you to quickly access and view your pinned/frequent locations (Quick access), Favorites (pinned files), Recent files, and Shared files from one location.
- Quick access = Displays up to 13 folders that you pinned or frequently opened on the system.
- Favorites = Pinned files.
- Recent (Recent files) = Displays up to 25 files that you most recently opened.
- Shared = Displays files shared with your Microsoft account.
Contents
- Option One: Add or Remove Home Desktop Icon for Current User
- Option Two: Add or Remove Home Desktop Icon for All Users
EXAMPLE: File Explorer Home
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.
2. Add Home Desktop Icon for Current User
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Home_desktop_icon_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}"=dword:00000000 3. Remove Home Desktop Icon for Current User
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Home_desktop_icon_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Refresh the desktop (F5) to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.
2. Add Home Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Home_desktop_icon_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}"=dword:00000000 3. Remove Home Desktop Icon for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Home_desktop_icon_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Refresh the desktop (F5) to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
