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How to remove the HomeGroup icon from Windows 8 Desktop (bug fix)

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Windows 8 HomeGroup desktop icon bug

HomeGroup iconThere is a common bug concerning the Microsoft Windows 8 Operating System that will cause the HomeGroup icon to appear at random on the Windows desktop. The HomeGroup icon may appear at any random time and can not be removed by simply right clicking the icon or highlighting the icon and deleting it. This often confuses users and may cause them to suspect that the HomeGroup icon is relative to a computer virus or malware infection.

The random HomeGroup icon bug is not linked to a computer infection. This is a common bug that may happen at random to Microsoft Windows 8 users.

HomeGroup is used to sync existing computers on the same network in order to share files.

How to remove the HomeGroup desktop icon

The video instruction and text below detail how to easily fix this bug.

remove homegroup icon

1. Right click Windows Desktop and select Personalize.

homegroup desktop icon removal

2. On the left side of the Personalization interface click Change desktop icons.

Desktop icon homegroup

3. A new window will appear titled Desktop Icon Settings. From here, click and un-click an unused Desktop Icon such as “User Files” to get the Apply button to become highlighted (available). Click the Apply button, followed by the OK button. This should fix the Windows 8 HomeGroup desktop icon bug.

Note: As long as you are able to make the Apply button on the Desktop Icon Settings window clickable, you will be able to repair this bug.

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Sean Doyle

Sean is a distinguished tech author and entrepreneur with over 20 years of extensive experience in cybersecurity, privacy, malware, Google Analytics, online marketing, and various other tech domains. His expertise and contributions to the industry have been recognized in numerous esteemed publications. Sean is widely acclaimed for his sharp intellect and innovative insights, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the tech community. His work not only advances the field but also helps businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of the digital world.

10 Responses

  1. Glenn Heaton says:
    January 10, 2018 at 7:11 pm

    Win 7 monthly update (Jan. 18) which did not install cleanly caused icon to appear. Still clearing!

  2. Brandon says:
    December 6, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    I’m a windows 10 user and it just randomly appeared. Why?

  3. Anonymous says:
    November 21, 2017 at 2:50 am

    Thank you so much for this helpful post! Your instructions were so clear and easy to execute to solve this problem!

  4. Anonymous says:
    October 8, 2017 at 3:51 pm

    I am a Windows 8.1 user, and it just happened to me. This did fix the bug for now, but who knows if it may happen again. Regardless, its not just a Windows 8 issue. In fact, I noticed Windows 7 users griping.

  5. Anonymous says:
    March 2, 2015 at 12:09 am

    Thanks worked great

  6. Person says:
    May 31, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    i am writing this again because i am not sure if the first one processed correctly. Is this a real fix or a temporary one.

    • Sean Doyle says:
      May 31, 2014 at 6:46 pm

      Not sure what happened to your comment, there is a strict filter set.

      This is a normal bug, this will fix it. If it happens again, try this step again.

      If you have not updated Windows, make sure to do so… Update to 8.1 if you want.

      Future Windows updates should stop this bug from occurring.

  7. lorax says:
    April 22, 2014 at 5:03 am

    thank you for the simple instructions.

  8. Anonymous says:
    April 2, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    thanks I was really worried i had a virus!

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