Deleting Shortcuts

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated March 11, 2019)

Shortcuts are handy for many purposes, but at some point, you may want to get rid of one (or more). You can delete a shortcut the same way as you would any other object in Windows—you simply select it and press the Del key. The icon is moved to the Recycle Bin, where you can later retrieve it, if desired.

There is one important thing to note about deleting shortcuts. Deleting a shortcut does not delete the program or document to which the shortcut refers. Thus, if you delete a shortcut to a graphics program, the graphics program still remains—only the shortcut file itself is deleted.

If you are a Windows 8 user, don't confuse shortcuts (which appear on the desktop) with tiles (which appear on the Start screen). How you delete Start screen tiles is covered in a different WindowsTip.

 This tip (10870) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Starting a Discussion

Tips for getting your Discussion started.

Discover More

Making Use of Extra Labels

Got extra labels left over after printing a mail merge? Here's what you can do to put those labels to good use.

Discover More

Comments in Endnotes

Able to add comments everywhere, except in endnotes? This seems to be a limitation in Word, but here are some ways to ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Assigning a Shortcut Key to a Start Menu Item

Reducing the transitions between the keyboard and the mouse is a practice that can improve efficiency. Toward that end, ...

Discover More

Using the Windows 10 Touch Keyboard

If you don't have access to a physical keyboard and still need to enter information you can use the Touch Keyboard found ...

Discover More

Swipe Your Text

Whether you're using a tablet PC or a desktop, there is a new way to enter text. Using the swipe keyboard found in ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one more than 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.