How to Remove Homegroup icon from Desktop

If you guys restart your PC and suddenly the Homegroup icon starts in order to appear on the desktop out of nowhere, what would you guys do? Obviously, you will try to delete the icon when you don’t really have any use of the Homegroup that has suddenly appeared on your desktop as well. However, even when you guys try to delete the icon whenever you again start your PC you will find the icon again on your desktop. So deleting the icon in the first place isn’t really helpful. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Remove the Homegroup icon from the Desktop. Let’s begin!

The main cause of this is whenever sharing is ON the homegroup icon will actually be placed on the desktop via default. If you guys disable sharing the icon will go away. However, there is more than one method in order to remove the Homegroup icon from the desktop in Windows 10. That we would discuss today in the below troubleshooting guide as well.

Tip: Right-tap on the desktop and select Refresh, this may also be able to fix your issue, if not then just continue with the guide below.

How to Remove Homegroup icon from Desktop

Uncheck Network in Desktop Icon Settings

• First of all, you have to right-click in an empty area on the desktop and choose Personalize.
• Now from the left-hand side menu, choose Themes and then tap on Desktop icon settings.
• In the Desktop Icon, Settings window, just uncheck Network.
• Tap on Apply followed via OK. This would definitely remove the Homegroup icon from the desktop, however, if you guys are still seeing the icon then continue along with the next method.

Leave Homegroup | Remove Homegroup icon

• You need to type Homegroup in the Windows search bar and tap on HomeGroup Settings.
• Then tap on “Leave the Homegroup” and then tap on Save changes.
• Next, it will ask for confirmation so again just tap on Leave the homegroup.
• Now reboot your PC in order to save changes.

Disable Sharing Wizard

• You need to open File Explorer via pressing Windows Key + E.
• Now just tap on View and then click on Options.
• In the Folder Options window switch in order to the View tab.
• Now scroll down till you guys find “Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended)” and then uncheck this option.
• Tap on Apply followed via OK. Reboot your PC in order to save changes.
• Now again head back to Folder Options and recheck the option.

Turn Off Network Discovery | Remove Homegroup icon

• Just tap on Windows Key + X and then choose Control Panel.
• Now tap on Choose homegroup and sharing options that are under Network and Internet.
• Well, under Share along with other home computers, just tap on Change advanced sharing settings.
• Next, you need to check Turnoff Network discovery and tap on Save changes.
• This may also help you Remove the Homegroup icon from a desktop, however, if didn’t then just continue.

Remove Homegroup Desktop Icon through Registry

• Tap on Windows Key + R and then type Regedit and click on Enter in order to open Registry Editor.
• Now navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

• Just find the key {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} in the right window pane as well.
• If you guys can’t find the above Dword then you have to create this key.
• Right-tap in an empty area in the registry and then also choose New > DWORD (32-bit) value.
• Just name this key as {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}.
• Now you need to double-click on it and change its value to 1 if you guys want to remove the HomeGroup icon from the desktop as well.

Delete the HomeGroup Registry Key

• Tap on Windows Key + R and then type Regedit and click on Enter in order to open Registry Editor.
• Now navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

• Then under NameSpace locate the key “{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}” and then right-tap on it and choose Delete.

• Now just close Registry Editor and also restart your PC.

Turn off Homegroup | Remove Homegroup icon

• Tap on Windows Key + R and then type services.msc and click on Enter.
• Just scroll till you guys find HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider.
• Now right-click on them and choose Properties.
• You have to make sure to set their startup type to disabled and if the services are running tap on Stop.
• Now reboot your PC in order to save changes and check if you were able to Remove the Homegroup icon from the desktop in Windows 10

Run DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

It’s also possible that Windows Files may be corrupt and you guys are not able to disable homegroup and then run DISM and again try the above steps.

• Tap on Windows Key + X and then choose Command Prompt (Admin).
• Now enter the following command in cmd and click on enter:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Click on enter to run the above command and wait for the process in order to complete, most of the time, it actually takes 15-20 minutes.

NOTE: If the above command doesn't really work then you have to try on the below: 
Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows /LimitAccess

Note: Just replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows along with the location of your repair source (Windows Installation as well as Recovery Disc).

• Now after the DISM process is complete, type the following in the cmd and click on Enter: sfc /scannow
• Also, then let System File Checker run and when it’s complete, then just restart your PC.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

Also See: How to Fix Shortcut icon change to Internet Explorer icon