How to Disable Drop Shadows for Desktop Icon Labels in Windows 11

If you have recently updated to Windows 11, you might have noticed that the desktop icon labels have a drop shadow effect. This is a visual enhancement that is supposed to make the icon labels more readable on different backgrounds. However, some users may find this effect annoying or unnecessary, and would prefer to disable it. In this article, I will show you how to turn off the drop shadow effect for desktop icon labels in Windows 11 using two different methods.

Method 1: Using Visual Effects Performance Options

One way to disable the drop shadow effect for desktop icon labels is to use the Visual Effects Performance Options. This is a tool that allows you to adjust the appearance and performance of Windows by enabling or disabling various visual effects. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe and hit Enter. This will open the Performance Options window.
2. In the Visual Effects tab, select the Custom option and uncheck the box next to Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop. (See screenshot below)

3. Click OK to save the changes and close the window.

You should now see that the drop shadow effect for desktop icon labels is gone.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor

Another way to disable the drop shadow effect for desktop icon labels is to use the Registry Editor. This is a tool that allows you to view and modify the registry, which is a database that stores settings and options for Windows and applications. However, editing the registry can be risky, as making incorrect changes can cause serious problems to your system. Therefore, before proceeding, make sure to back up your data and create a system restore point.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit and hit Enter. This will open the Registry Editor window.
2. In the left pane, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

3. In the right pane, double-click on the value named ListviewShadow. If it does not exist, right-click on an empty space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it ListviewShadow.
4. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog box, set the value data to 0 and click OK. (See screenshot below)

5. Close the Registry Editor window.

You may need to restart your PC or sign out and sign in again for the changes to take effect.

You should now see that the drop shadow effect for desktop icon labels is gone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to disabling drop shadows for desktop icon labels in Windows 11:

Question: Why do I still see some drop shadows on my desktop icons after disabling them?

Answer: If you have disabled font smoothing or ClearType in Windows 11, you may still see some faint drop shadows on your desktop icons. This is because font smoothing or ClearType helps reduce jagged edges of text and makes it easier to read on LCD screens. To enable font smoothing or ClearType, go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display > ClearType text, and follow the instructions on the screen.

Question: How can I enable drop shadows for desktop icon labels again?

Answer: If you want to enable drop shadows for desktop icon labels again, you can simply reverse the steps that you followed to disable them. That is:

• For method 1, check the box next to Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop in the Visual Effects Performance Options.
• For method 2, set the value data of ListviewShadow to 1 in the Registry Editor.

Question: How can I change other visual effects in Windows 11?

Answer: You can change other visual effects in Windows 11 by using either method 1 or method 2 above. For method 1, you can choose from various options in the Visual Effects Performance Options, such as:

• Animate controls and elements inside windows
• Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
• Fade or slide menus into view
• Fade or slide ToolTips into view
• Fade out menu items after clicking
• Show shadows under mouse pointer
• Show thumbnails instead of icons
• Show translucent selection rectangle
• Show window contents while dragging
• Smooth edges of screen fonts
• Smooth-scroll list boxes

For method 2, you can modify other values in the same registry key as ListviewShadow, such as:

• ExtendedUIHoverTime: Determines the delay time before a tooltip is displayed when you hover over an item.
• IconSpacing: Determines the horizontal spacing between icons on the desktop.
• IconVerticalSpacing: Determines the vertical spacing between icons on the desktop.
• TaskbarAnimations: Determines whether to animate the taskbar buttons when you hover over them.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The author is not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following the instructions in this article. Always backup your data before making any changes to your registry or visual effects settings. Use this solution at your own risk.