Can I remove Desktop.ini and what it is

Desktop.ini is one of the most mysterious files of the Windows operating system, according to many average users. This format can be found on the desktop, and most do not know where they come from and what to do with them. Often, users perceive them as dangerous viruses and programs that require urgent action. In fact, files of this type are not dangerous. Consider what they are for and how to get rid of them.

Remove Desktop.ini file from desktop.

What are ini-files

The Windows operating system allows the user to customize access to folders and files and set other parameters. You can say about desktop.ini that these are hidden OS configuration settings that are located in each individual folder. They affect the display of the folder, its appearance, the installed icon, the name, properties, and much more. All permissions overlay information is saved as initialization text. Each program creates this file, and in case of deletion resumes it. The document automatically saves all changes in the settings in the hidden mode. Ini files are always present on the computer, just the user does not see them. If you saw them on your desktop, then you have enabled the display of hidden files. They can be made visible by setting the appropriate resolution as follows:

  1. Go to "My Computer" or "This Computer" (depending on the version of Windows).
  2. Open the file explorer. You can also use the Windows key + E.
  3. In the main menu, select the "View" tab and go to the "Options".
  4. Find the column "Change folder and search settings."
  5. In the window, go to the tab "View".
  6. We remove the tick from the item "Hide protected system files."
  7. We confirm the decision and apply the changes.

TIP. It is not recommended to enable the display of hidden components, since their accidental deletion may lead to irreversible consequences for the OS.

Why they appear on the desktop

You can see desktop.ini on the desktop in all versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows 10. A logical question arises - why does the desktop show them if these files belong to folders? The answer is simple: the desktop is also a folder that is created individually for each individual user. Let's say even more - the system creates two folders of the desktop. One of them contains personal files of the user, another - the general access. The operating system combines them and displays on the main page, which you see when you boot your PC. That is why you can see two desktop.ini documents.

Is it a virus

Desktop.ini is a hidden system file that is certainly not dangerous and is not a virus. This is just a document where the user settings are described. However, many malicious programs are disguised as system files, and this case is no exception. If you see the desktop on your computer and desktop, even when you have disabled the display of hidden items, this may indicate the presence of a virus. Such hazards are easy to detect with any antivirus program.

Can I uninstall desktop.ini

You can delete the file desktop.ini, it will not entail any consequences for the system. But all custom folder settings will be reset to the “factory”, i.e. system-wide default options will take effect. After each deletion, the operating system creates a new text document, which will again save all changes. This is an automatic process. It is better to just leave the documents hidden and not pay attention to them.

How to remove from the desktop

You can delete files in the standard way, through the drop-down menu when you click the right mouse button. But, as described earlier, it is better to simply hide them through the Explorer.

How can I use desktop.ini

With a few simple procedures with these text documents, you can change the basic folder settings:

  • Assign icons and badges;
  • Create hints about the contents of the folder when you hover;
  • Configure access.

You can change the folder style like this:

  1. Choose the one you want to configure, and just in case make a backup copy of the content.
  2. Open the command prompt as an administrator. To do this, click "Start" - "System Windows" - "Command Line". We click with the right mouse button on the opened window. We find the item "Advanced" and it will have a section that allows you to run as administrator.
  3. The system will request permission to make changes. We confirm.
  4. To make the folder we need the system (activate the setting "read only"), enter in the command line attrib + s "Folder Location".
  5. Create a desktop.ini file there. You can do this with notepad.
  6. Save the file under the name of the system "desktop.ini". Through the menu "Properties" make it hidden.
IMPORTANT. To save the file, select "Unicode" in the "Encoding". This will allow you to read and adjust the contents of localized strings yourself.

Some useful string functions:

  • IconFile - to set a personalized icon. If you do not like the standard yellow icon, in this line you can specify the path to the image that will be used instead.
  • IconIndex - to select the desired icon. These two entries work together, so set the value “0” in this line. If there is more than one image in the path you specified to the icon, then set the desired number.
  • InfoTip - for setting content tips. In the line you just need to prescribe what will be displayed when you hover the cursor.
  • NoSharing - restricts access. To prohibit it, prescribe "1", for permission - "0".
  • IconArea_Text - allows you to select the color of the names of the components.
  • Owner - to indicate the owner of the folder. In the same field, you can specify a username and password for access.

As a result, we see that desktop.ini is not something malicious and dangerous. This is a system configuration file that can be very useful. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.