{"id":75557,"date":"2024-06-16T11:24:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T05:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=75557"},"modified":"2024-06-16T11:28:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T05:58:02","slug":"remove-linux-icon-desktop-namespace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/remove-linux-icon-desktop-namespace\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Remove Linux Icon from Desktop and Explorer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After uninstalling Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Virtual Machine Platform using OptionalFeatures.exe, the &#8220;Linux&#8221; icon may remain in the Desktop and File Explorer navigation pane.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/linux-icon-desktop.png\" alt=\"remove linux icon from desktop namespace\" width=\"201\" height=\"180\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/linux-icon-explorer.png\" alt=\"remove linux icon from desktop namespace\" width=\"202\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Running the following PowerShell command may also not remove the Linux icon.<\/p>\n<pre class=\"powershell\">Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux<\/pre>\n<h2>Resolution<\/h2>\n<p>To remove the Linux icon from the desktop namespace, please download <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/remove_linux_icon.zip\">remove_linux_icon.reg<\/a> (zipped), unzip and run it. Click Yes to confirm.<\/p>\n<p>If you wish to manually delete the keys, open Regedit.exe and delete them.<\/p>\n<pre>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Desktop\\NameSpace\\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}\n\nHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Desktop\\NameSpace\\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}\n\nHKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Desktop\\NameSpace\\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}\n\nHKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Desktop\\NameSpace\\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}<\/pre>\n<p>(Deleting keys 1 &amp; 2 above should be sufficient in most cases. Keys 3 &amp; 4 may not exist. Check them anyway.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After uninstalling Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Virtual Machine Platform using OptionalFeatures.exe, the &#8220;Linux&#8221; icon may remain in the Desktop and File Explorer navigation pane.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,869],"tags":[441],"class_list":["post-75557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows-10","category-windows-11","tag-registry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27125,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wsl-no-installed-distributions-error\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":0},"title":"Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions","author":"Ramesh","date":"August 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"When you launch Windows Subsystem for Linux (wsl.exe) for the first time on a Windows 11 computer, the following message appears: Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions. Distributions can be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store: https:\/\/aka.ms\/wslstore Let's see how to fix this error. Download and Install a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"linux distro microsoft store","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/linux-distros-ms-store.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/linux-distros-ms-store.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/linux-distros-ms-store.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/linux-distros-ms-store.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1386,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/blue-double-arrow-icon-files-folders-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":1},"title":"What is the Two Blue Arrows Icon on Folders in Windows 10 and How to Remove it?","author":"Ramesh","date":"December 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"After installing Windows 10, you may notice that some of your files and folders show up with a double blue arrows icon at the top. This double blue arrows overlay icon is seen if the files and folders are compressed (NTFS compression), and there is nothing to worry about. This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/windows-compress-blue-arrow.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/windows-compress-blue-arrow.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/windows-compress-blue-arrow.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/windows-compress-blue-arrow.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26775,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/remove-learn-about-this-picture-desktop-icon\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":2},"title":"How to Remove &#8220;Learn about this picture&#8221; Desktop Icon in Windows 11","author":"Ramesh","date":"June 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"When you select the \"Windows Spotlight\" option as the desktop background in the Personalize settings page, Windows 11 adds a desktop icon named \"Learn about this picture.\" The \"Learn about this picture\" is a shell folder (special icon) that, when double-clicked, opens the Bing Images search results page for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 11&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 11","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-11\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"remove learn about this picture icon - registry","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/w11-learn-about-this-picture-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/w11-learn-about-this-picture-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/w11-learn-about-this-picture-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/w11-learn-about-this-picture-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80438,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/duplicate-onedrive-icon-file-explorer\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":3},"title":"[Fix] Duplicate OneDrive Icon in File Explorer","author":"Ramesh","date":"March 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"When you open File Explorer, you may notice two instances of the OneDrive icon in the navigation pane. The first one may appear as \"OneDrive\" and the other one as \"OneDrive - Personal\", both containing the same set of files and folders. You wonder how to remove the duplicate OneDrive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"duplicate onedrive icons in File Explorer left pane","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/onedrive_duplicate_icons.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/onedrive_duplicate_icons.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/onedrive_duplicate_icons.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/onedrive_duplicate_icons.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5817,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/ms-settings-uri-cascading-menu-desktop-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":4},"title":"Add &#8220;Settings&#8221; Cascading Context Menu on the Desktop in Windows 10","author":"Ramesh","date":"November 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Microsoft has moved most of the Control Panel features into the Settings UI in Windows 10, and at some point the classic Control Panel may be removed altogether. The Settings panel has different categories: System, Devices, Phone, Network & Internet, Personalization, Apps, Accounts, Time & language, Gaming, Ease of Access,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"ms-settings URI Settings context menu on desktop","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/settings-cascade-menu.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/settings-cascade-menu.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/settings-cascade-menu.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59846,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/open-control-panel-in-windows-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":75557,"position":5},"title":"How to Open Control Panel in Windows 11","author":"Ramesh","date":"July 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"You can use Control Panel to change settings for Windows. These settings control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, and you can use them to set up Windows so that it's just right for you. Since Windows 10, many Control Panel settings have been moved to the Settings\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 11&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 11","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-11\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"control panel - show desktop icons dialog","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/show-control-panel-in-desktop.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75557\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}