The Cluttered Desktop View
By default, macOS keeps its file and folder icons looking as clean as possible. However, there is a View option in Finder called “Show item info.” When enabled, macOS displays a tiny line of blue text directly beneath every single icon on your desktop and in your Finder windows. For a folder, it shows the number of items inside (e.g., “12 items”). For an image, it displays the resolution (e.g., “1920 x 1080”). For a hard drive, it displays the free space available.
While this technical metadata can be useful for photographers managing thousands of images, it completely ruins the minimalist aesthetic of the macOS desktop. The extra line of text under every icon creates visual clutter, makes the icons take up more space, and can be difficult to read against complex desktop wallpapers. If you want a cleaner, simpler view of your files, you should disable the item info text.
How to Hide the Extra Icon Information
You can toggle this feature off in the Finder View Options.
- Click anywhere on your empty Desktop (or open the specific Finder window you want to change).
- Look at the very top of your screen to the macOS menu bar and click on View.
- From the dropdown menu, select Show View Options (or press
Command + J). - A small, floating settings window will appear. Look down the list of checkboxes.
- Find the option labelled Show item info.
- Uncheck the box.
The blue metadata text beneath your icons will instantly vanish, returning your desktop or folder to a much cleaner, icon-only appearance. Note that View Options are often specific to the currently active folder; if you want this applied everywhere, click the “Use as Defaults” button at the bottom of the View Options window.