Desktop.ini File in Windows 10: Everything You Need to Know

Everything you need to know about the dekstop.ini file

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Windows, though a user-friendly OS, often makes changes or throws errors beyond the understanding of regular users. One such is the mysterious appearance of thedesktop.inifile in Windows 10.

Many are left wondering what thedesktop.inifile in Windows is, whether it’s safe to keep or should be removed, and if there are any ways to hide it. So, let’s find out the answer to these questions.

What is the desktop.ini file in Windows 10?

Windows creates the desktop.ini files to store the folder configuration and related data. Simply put, it stores information on how a folder is displayed in Windows. You will find one in every folder and twodesktop.inifiles on the desktop.

The contents of adesktop.inifile are usually as follows, though they differ based on the folder it’s stored in:

[.ShellClassInfo]LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183[LocalizedFileNames]chrome_UjPv0oPWiy.png=@chrome_UjPv0oPWiy.png,0chrome_2DCPtGq71a.png=@chrome_2DCPtGq71a.png,0

Windows automatically creates these files when you modify the layout or a related setting for a folder to store the changes. Ideally, users shouldn’t be able to see thedesktop.inifiles since these are hidden by default.

But if you’re asking why you can see the desktop.ini file, you have probably changed the settings in theFolder Optionsand set the protected system files to be displayed.

In case you didn’t manually make the change, there’s a likelihood that a third-party app or a recent Windows update made the change, though in both these cases, it can be reverted to the default settings.

Regarding the deletion of desktop.ini files, you can delete thedesktop.inifiles without causing any significant damage to the computer, though it’s not recommended that you do so.

Any changes recently made and stored on thedesktop.inifile will revert to the initial state. And in case you are only bothered by their presence, there’s a quick way to hide desktop.ini files in Windows.

How do I hide the desktop.ini file in Windows?

There you go! This will hide thedekstop.inifiles in every iteration of the OS, be it Windows 10 or 11. But it also hides the other system files and protected folders. If you want them to be visible, try the workaround listed next.

How do I hide desktop.ini files without hiding the other system files?

That’s it! Now, while thedesktop.inifile in Windows 10 will remain hidden, the chosen system files will be visible and available for access.

Why are there two desktop.ini files on the desktop?

This may surprise many, but the desktop is a folder, instead, a combination of two folders, the User-specific desktop and the Public desktop.

Each of these folders has itsdesktop.inifile to store the configuration data. As a result, you have two such files on the desktop.

You know everything about thedesktop.inifile and the steps to hide it in Windows 10. Remember to proceed cautiously when dealing with such files since these are critical to Windows.

And while you are here, do not forget to check some easytips to boost Windows’ performance.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.

Desktop.ini File in Windows 10: Everything You Need to Know#

What is the desktop.ini file in Windows 10?#

How do I hide the desktop.ini file in Windows?#

How do I hide desktop.ini files without hiding the other system files?#

Why are there two desktop.ini files on the desktop?#

Desktop.ini File in Windows 10: Everything You Need to Know

What is the desktop.ini file in Windows 10?

How do I hide the desktop.ini file in Windows?

How do I hide desktop.ini files without hiding the other system files?

Why are there two desktop.ini files on the desktop?