How to remove file icons from desktop

[Deleted User]

Recently I was trying to copy all my WORD files onto an external hard disk and somehow (I haven't a CLUE what I did) icons for all the files are now on my desktop! I want to remove them (they're really cluttering up the desktop) but I'm nervous in case I delete the files by mistake. Can anyone advise me please?

debitcardmayhem

Were you trying to copy them or drag and drop ?
First thing is to check they are in your Documents folder
and they will still be %USER%/Desktop

flashg67

Have you checked the files are also on your external drive and/or still also in your 'documents'? If so, should be fine to delete, but can't think how you did this unless you pasted them there by mistake!

Nada666

It's very easy to end up with a bunch of files on the desktop - maybe you missed the wastebasket when deleting them after copying or you missed folder when copying.

At least they are Word files so should be simple to keep a back-up just in case.

Right-click the empty desktop and sort by item type. Then move them to a folder. You can then copy that folder somewhere else or leave it.

Of course you don't want to end up managing multiple versions in different places - but moving them out of the way until you have time to check is straightforward.

(Alternatively you can use the Desktop folder's listing in a File Explorer window - that may be easier to sort and rearrange than directly on the desktop.)

pendragon_arther

This can happen when the monitor refreshes when the files are selected and they get copied. You can use a free file duplicator program to find out if they've been copied.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

if not sure about deleting, just create a new folder and drag them all in there, until ready to delete.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone - appreciate the help. Yes, the oriignal files are still where they were - I was trying to create copies. I obviously just hit the wrong button somewhow ...