How to create icons without text
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I always liked the idea of textless icons after seeing them on the Dock in Apple’s Mac OSX. For many programs, the text was unnecessary and it really made the icons stand out. Now you can have the same effect in Windows XP and Vista.
Before you start, make sure that your folder options are set so file extensions are not shown. To check this, open up a Windows Explorer window > Tools > Options > View tab > Hide extensions for known file types. It is very important that you check the box beside this feature. Modifying the entire file name and not giving an extension can potentially alter or damage your files. After renaming, you can then re-enable the extensions. Thank you to Jerry for pointing this out.
If you cannot delete your icon, download this program. Please be very careful as this program permanently deletes files without sending them to the Recycle Bin.
Now that you are prepared you cannot rename your icons and folders after this:
Tutorial:
1) Right click the icon and choose rename
2) Press Alt + 255 or Alt + 0160, making sure the numbers are inputted with the numpad. You can use a series of combinations or repeat the same key as well. (e.g: Alt+255, Alt +255, Alt + 255 or Alt + 0160 , Alt + 255, Alt +255, etc) Make sure you do not use the same file name twice as this can cause problems.
One thing you have to know is that you are actually inputting characters when pushing those buttons, meaning you cannot have duplicates in the same directory. Make sure you do not use the same key combination twice.In my opinion, the icons look much sleeker and beautiful without the text.
There have been reports of people unable to rename their folders and icons after this. You can rename them by going into command prompt (cmd.exe) First you’ll want to navigate to the desired directory, for example:
cd F:\users\albert\desktop
Then you have to remember the combination you used. So if the file name was Alt+255, I would type:
ren “Alt+255″ newfoldername
Again this has worked for some but not all.
But wait… that shortcut arrow sure ruins the effect. Click here to find out how you can remove that as well.
Thank you to all who dugg it =)
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March 4th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
You do realize that by doing this, you are stripping the virginity of the file extension of the icon do you not? You must change this before every application one tries to open will be unusable! Do not fear, Jerry is here, for I am not queer, so do not shed a tear. Jerk.
March 4th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Ahh… I completely forgot about that. You have to hide the file extension before doing this if you have it enabled … shall update later =)
March 4th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Sir Albert, I do not wish to bash you with inexplicable, foul language but this case must have its use to teach you a lesson! You absent-mindedly forgot to tell us (viewers) of your website about the consequences if one chose to take this route of pure Satanic evil! Suppose for instance if a newbie decided to follow your tutorial and changed the file extension of an application that was very dear to him, such as downloading a 5 gigabyte file that took 2 months to complete and didn’t know how to change it back, do you know what kind of mental or emotional pain this child we shall name Tim would go through?
Dear Albert, this tutorial is outrageous! You must quickly edit this article and save little Tim from depression if he shall ever read it!
Cautiously Yours,
-Jerry
March 5th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Haha =P. Thanks for the heads up. For those who already read the article, make sure you don’t erase your file extension or alter it!
March 6th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I have already read the article, but I refuse to heed your warning. File extensions are for the weak.
March 7th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Wow, thanks.
I JUST finished downloading a 5 gigabyte file that took 2 months to complete on my dial-up internet, and after following your tutorial, I have irreversibly changed the file extension of my file. I don’t remember the original file name so I can’t change it back!
Thanks alot.
March 7th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
the file name isn’t too important, but if you remember the file extension, it should be fine
March 8th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
six years im watch that explorer icon in my desktop, and now i can removed text to away from it.
March 8th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I was going to ask about that but you all beat me to it. On my machine it still leaves a little line under the icon, any ideas.
Kevin.
March 8th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Could you please take a screenshot and upload it? Also, have you tried using different combinations.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Albert, I’m emailing you a screenshot now. I have tried different combos with the same result.
Kevin.
March 9th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I’m just wondering, how were you able to get the text for My Computer underlined?
March 9th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Ok, that is weird, all of my icons are underlined on 4 of my 7 machines. I never noticed that before, thanks for pointing that out. Here’s the fix. go to Windows Explorer -tools -folder options -general tab and uncheck Underline icon titles consistent with my browser. now all is right in my world.
Kevin
March 20th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I wasn’t to sure where to add this but this looks like a good place. If you like the Dock on OS X your going the love RocketDock from Punk Software give it a try, I’ve been using it for a few days and it works great on XP and Vista. http://www.punksoftware.com/rocketdock
Kevin
March 27th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Nice! I absolutely love it! cleaned up my desktop nicely.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:27 am
ever tried doing this with a laptop keyboard that has the Numpad as “Fn” alt keys? troublesome!!
anyway, it works, but since my desktop has files and all my freq. programs are launched through quick launch, this is of no use to me. nice anyway
April 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
[...] and easy way to improve the look of your desktop icons. Gives a Mac feel to it.read more | digg [...]
April 11th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
How do you delete the icon if you don’t need it anymore??
April 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Go here and download the program: http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/dldelinv.htm
April 11th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
this does not work on my xp pro sp2 machine. it simply names the file ~ or ÿ or whatever ascii character I type. DUH.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
ok I found the problem. Alt-255 was what I used and that particular number does not work it just types “ÿ” so maybe fix ur tut
April 11th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I now seem to notice that different people’s XP and Vista work differently…
April 11th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
[...] How to create icons without text in Vista link [...]
April 11th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
or…..you can just get a mac
April 11th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
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April 12th, 2007 at 3:51 am
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April 12th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
This is my first comment over here. I like this blog a lot.
P.S. - CSS update?
I liked this blog entry the most though, the way you said it was just amazing!
See ya Later
April 13th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
@eRin
I was going to say the same. Lol.
That guy in the beginning of the post section named Jerry. Is he mentally insane? With his logic we might as well change a lot of things because people might do something wrong and hurt themselves. It could cause them lots of emotional and physical strain.
You can’t baby the world just because a few idiots can’t read instructions.
Although I have to say that macs have text under our icons, I can see what you mean by getting that mac look. Other then that I think this is a wonderful tip for windows users. And I like how your text box here says Type here. Really cool effect I need to research that effect.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
[...] How To Create Icons Without Text! Great and easy way to improve the look of your desktop icons. Gives a Mac feel to it. (tags: Icons) [...]
April 15th, 2007 at 12:16 am
[...] Link [...]
April 15th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I tried the command prompt thing and it don’t seem to work?
April 26th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I try this in my laptop, nothing hapen
April 26th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
does anyone has a step by step for laptop;
I don’t think i have this line,
“making sure the numbers are inputted with the numpad.”
April 27th, 2007 at 12:36 am
The important part of this tutorial is that you need to *hold down* the ALT key while typing the numbers on the numeric keypad, then release the ALT key and you get a character…
(a little known shortcut to entering extended characters… this is one of the uses for the Character map program is it shows these key combinations…)
I never knew there were invisible characters… however this is quite useful.
Only reason I knew about the alt trick is that I type ALT + 130 to get an accented “e acute” for my name: é
Gaspard Léon
April 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
That’s a pretty cool tip. Definitely looks better.
April 28th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Rousseau: I’m sure your laptop has a numpad. It’s the numbers that are placed on the same ones as the letter keys, usually around the UIOJKL keys.
Usually, you have to press another key, AND those keys to input the number.
Hope that helps.
April 28th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
This is great tricks, thinkyou Albert for the help I did it.
I create 2 folder on my desktop to mess with, before I do it to my icons.
I can get the folder away now, I forgot the combination. any other trick to get them 2 folder off my desktop
July 11th, 2007 at 11:29 am
thanks for the step-by-step guide. Really liked it. Nice blog though.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
yeah it work thanks
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:34 am
Yo ppl! What’s up with the “press ALT+255 etc” stuff? You can easily get that effect by renaming the icon by pressing the spacebar!
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:42 am
Oh yeah, i just figured, the spacebar trick works only for the Computer, User Folder, Network and Recycle Bin icons, not for shortcuts.
September 5th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
‘Kay, I’ve tried everything. All sorts of programs, all sorts of fixes, even the command prompt. I did the Alt+255 thing, and I can’t rename. I know, there’s a fix already, but it doesn’t work for myself. I’m in the right directory, I know to use alt+255 instead of space. I know enough about it. But, whenever I try to rename it, it says access is denied. Now, I know what you’re thinking “This stupid kid is on his parents computer was trying to hide his porn on a restricted account”. Hell, I’d think that too. The thing is, my laptop is only in my possession, and I’m the only admin on it. I’m confused on why access is denied. If someone could help me, I’d be happy to provide with a screen shot proving my situation.
jcheese@gmail.com
I’m pulling my hair out trying to figure this out. Thanks to whoever helps
- Joel
September 6th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
“Windows Explorer window > Tools > Options > View tab >” I can’t find it in the internet explorer part. I can find tools but not options. Where did the options thing go?
September 19th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Anyone know if/why/how my Alt+### keys would be disabled. I’ve known how to use those alt keys for a long time, but on my current install of Vista, none of them type anything, not even in notepad.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Hello every one. I don’t know if the laptop users already figure out how to make the Alt+####. Before I continue, I have to say that I don’t have a laptop to confirm if it works (I make the Alt+### before, so I know it works, still it may not work for all, so I hope it helps). First of all you have to find the Num pad. It’s located on the letters key pad, but the numbers have a different color than the letters on the keyboard. I assume is the same in all laptops, so this is corresponding Letter key of each number: 0=>M; 1=>J; 2=>K; 3=>L; 4=>U; 5=>I; 6=>O; 7=>7; 8=>8; 9=>9. Now that you have located the num pad, you have to use the Function key (Fn) along with the Alt key to perform the combination: Fn+Alt+#### (Note: Fn and Alt keys must be pressed at the same time, then the conbination of numbers and release when finish each combination). Also you have to press the Num Lock key before start, the key pad is locked . Hope it helps.
I almost forget, I find a nice tricks and good posts. Thanks to all.
To Tim #6: I’m sorry for your your irreversible change of extension lol…
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I made it work but now I cannot rename or delete the folder, I tried the cmd but it keeps saying “the system cannot find the file specified”. Any help?
November 24th, 2007 at 1:59 am
hey its not working on my vista home premium………………….
when i rename wiht the help of cmd its give erro……..”The system cannot find the file specified”…………
any help most welcome……..
December 28th, 2007 at 2:28 am
Same problem here .. I can’t rename or delete that folder …
June 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
I am able to remove the text from the first of my 11 destktop icons (in vista home premium)using Alt+255 as instructed. When I try to do the rest, a pop-up informs me that file extention name is already in use. I am not understanding how not to repeat the same file extention names when the only commands are Alt+255 and Alt+0160. Any help welcome.