Archive for November 2023

[Windows 11] Hide/Remove WSL Linux icon from Desktop

After installing WSL/Ubuntu 22.04 from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, a Linux icon was added to the Desktop which could not be removed the usual way.

After reading the following site I found a solution.

TweakNow – RegTweakHideDesktopIcons

I added the CLSID for the Linux icon {B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6} to the HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel section of Explorer at HKEY_CURRENT_USER. (See Registry file below)

Then rebooted the system after adding the registry entry (shown below).

After reboot the Linux icon was not present anymore on the desktop. Problem solved.

A. Download the Registry File: HideLinuxFromDesktop.reg
OR
B. Save and the following snippet to a .reg file and import it into the Registry Editor:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}"=dword:00000001


Please read the following disclaimer before making changes to your device / software:

Disclaimer

* I'm not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed.
* YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you.
* Your warranty will be void if you tamper with any part of your device / software.