Hide Icons is a lightweight Windows tray app to quickly show/hide desktop icons, set a global hotkey, control auto-start, and use a custom tray icon. Runs as a standard user (no admin required).
- One-click toggle – Left-click the tray icon to show/hide desktop icons.
- Hotkey support – Assign your own shortcut for instant toggling.
- Custom tray icon – Load any
.ico; auto-adapts to dark/light theme when using the default. - Run at startup – Enable/disable auto-start with a click.
- Persistent settings – Your choices survive restarts.
- Auto-update – Checks and updates on app start.
- No hacks – Uses the desktop's own command (no poking SysListView32), works on Win10/11.
- Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2/24H2 (and newer)
- No administrator privileges needed
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- Download the latest release from Releases.
- Launch
HideIcons.exe, and the tray icon appears in the notification area. - Left-click the tray icon to toggle icons, right-click for the menu.
Uninstall: Exit the app and delete the files. If you enabled Run at Startup, toggle it off from the tray menu before removing.
- Toggle icons: Left-click the tray icon.
- Set hotkey: Right-click → Set Hotkey → choose a shortcut. Remove via Remove Hotkey.
- Auto-start: Right-click → Run at Startup.
- Custom icon: Right-click → Change Icon / Reset Icon.
Issues and PRs are welcome! Please describe the environment (Windows version, steps to reproduce) when filing bugs.
If you find this useful:
MIT License. See LICENSE for details.
The product website is also available at emp0ry.com/Hide-Icons/. Website sources and publication are maintained in the private emp0ry.com project. Completed application releases notify its central static build; this repository contains the application and its technical documentation.