Hide desktop.ini for the desktop view only; still show hidden and system files

Question

Is it possible to hide desktop.ini on the desktop, but show it when viewed in Windows Explorer?

Essentially, I need to be able to see hidden and system files when using Windows Explorer, but I don't like the two desktop.ini files on my desktop (using Windows 7, 8, and 8.1). Is there a way to hide those two files on the desktop only?

Answer 1

I found a solution on this site.

Use RegEdit to edit a DWORD registry key (or create a new key if it doesn't exist).

Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\

and create or edit key: UseDesktopIniCache and set it to 0 (zero).

Delete any desktop.ini files on the desktop and they will never reappear.

Answer 2

It turns out that deleting Desktop.ini was the best solution. It does not regenerate frequently enough to be annoying.

Answer 3

This is a little cheesy, but works for me:

1) Right-click on the desktop and un-select 'align icons to grid' (and also 'auto arrange icons' if you have that on).

2) Drag the desktop.ini files off the edge of your screen. While they are selected, you will still see a sliver of highlight, but once you click off them you will not see them at all.

The only problem is if you ever turn auto-arrange or auto-align back on, they will pop back into view.

Answer 4

To recap:

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Click Organize, Folder and Search Options.

3. Click the View tab.

4. Click to UNHIDE protected system files.

5. Click Apply to all folders.

6. Navigate to your profile's desktop.

7. Repeat steps 2 & 3.

8. Click to HIDE protected system files.

9. DO NOT click Apply to all...

This will let you see ALL the protected files and folders EXCEPT the desktop.ini files on your actual desktop.

Answer 5

If you want to only hide this two desktop.ini files, based on what Barc777 and studiohack posted, just hide protected system files for the Desktop. Don't do all other steps or you will change your configuration globally:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Click/navigate to Desktop
3. Click Organize -> Folder and Search Options
4. Click hide protected system files, under View tab.
5. Click Accept at the bottom of the window (do NOT apply to all folders).

This way, only the Desktop view is modified.

Answer 6

You could try this (worked with older Windows): Go to your user folder, and then folder "desktop". You will now see your desktop as a regular folder. Then, go to top menu, folder options, "View" tab (the one in the middle of that pop-up), and configure it as wished. In this case, forcing not showing system neither hidden files in this specific folder. (Don't hit "apply to all folders" button.)

Provided you had previously set to show system and hidden files for all folders (actually clicking in the mentioned "apply to all folders" button) in, for example, the main disk folder (that is, C:) so that all folders would show those files... Doing this after my first explained step (sorry for the mess) should keep that configuration only for the desktop folder.