The Cluttered Desktop
Windows 11, much like its predecessors, uses a shared “Public” user profile to manage elements that are visible to everyone who logs into the computer. When you install new software as an Administrator, the installer frequently drops a shortcut directly onto the Public Desktop (located at `C:\Users\Public\Desktop`). Because Windows automatically merges this public folder with your personal desktop folder, every user suddenly sees this new shortcut. If you share a home PC with your family or manage a small office network, this means every user’s desktop is constantly cluttered with icons for software they might not even have permission to use.
Restricting Public Desktop Additions
To keep your personal workspace clean and stop Windows 11 from automatically adding desktop icons for every new user on the system, you must modify the permissions of the Public Desktop folder to prevent installers from writing to it.
You will need Administrator privileges for this. Press the Windows key + R, type C:\Users\Public, and press Enter to open File Explorer. You must ensure hidden files are visible (click View > Show > Hidden items). You should now see a faded folder named Public Desktop. Right-click this folder and select Properties. Go to the Security tab and click the Advanced button. You need to disable inheritance first; click Disable inheritance at the bottom and select “Convert inherited permissions into explicit permissions.” Next, find the entry for SYSTEM and the entry for Administrators. Select them one by one, click Edit, and change their permissions to Deny for “Write” or “Create files.” Click OK on all windows. Installers will now silently fail to create the public shortcut, leaving your desktop pristine.