Hide and disable all items on the desktop

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows2000, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

Removes icons, shortcuts, and other default and user-defined items from the desktop, including Briefcase, Recycle Bin, Computer, and Network Locations. Removing icons and shortcuts does not prevent the user from using another method to start the programs or opening the items they represent. Also, see "Items displayed in Places Bar" in User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Common Open File Dialog to remove the Desktop icon from the Places Bar. This will help prevent users from saving data to the Desktop.

This policy has no additional user input fields.

• Computer
  Allow theme files from network locations

  At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
• User
  Do not add shares of recently opened documents to Network Locations

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Don't save settings at exit

  At least Windows 2000
• Computer
  Hide and disable all items on the desktop

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Hide Internet Explorer icon on desktop

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Hide Network Locations icon on desktop

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Prevent adding, dragging, dropping and closing the Taskbar's toolbars

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Prohibit adjusting desktop toolbars

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Prohibit User from manually redirecting Profile Folders

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove Computer icon on the desktop

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• User
  Remove My Documents icon on the desktop

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Remove Properties from the Computer icon context menu

  At least Windows 2000 Service Pack 3