How to remove UAC shield icon from shortcuts when UAC is disabled?


Recommended Posts

There are countless articles online on how to remove the UAC shield icon from shortcuts and absolutely none of them work.  

I run Windows 11 with UAC disabled.  I do not need nor want it.  But I also have several of my Desktop shortcuts set to "run as admin".  

Is there an actual working  way to get rid of them, they are quite annoying and make my icons look like ######.  

Deleting the cache won't work because I don't want to remove "run as admin", the shield icon just comes back.  

Is it possible to get rid of these ugly shields without enabling UAC or removing "run as admin"?  

Not to mention that clearing the cache doesn't seem to be truly possible because even in safe mode the files in users\*username*\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\explorer that are named with "iconcache" are always in use so even via command prompt you can't truly delete them.  Annoying.  AF.  

You can't do that easily, because behind the scenes, you can't actually turn off UAC. What the "Never notify" setting of the User Account Control Settings does is, as it says, is to never notify you when a program is launched with elevated privileges. But the principle of least-privilege remains. If you remove the shield icon, you won't have any way of knowing that a specific program or shortcut will be launched using elevated privileges. That's a security risk.

There might be a way to remove the shield (that is technically an Explorer overlay icon), but it seems that, for the shield icon, Microsoft has implemented some changes in the latest updates to disallow removing that specific overlay. Say you find a working workaround: it might be not stick because a future update will revert the change.

If you really don't want the shield overlay for a given icon on your Desktop, a better workaround would be to:

  1. Create a .bat to launch the desired program (so the .bat won't run elevated, but the program launched by the .bat will)
  2. Make a shortcut to this .bat, and then
  3. Customize the shortcut's icon so that it has the launched program's icon

There is a how-to here.

Edited by Newinko
  • Like 1

Doesn't Winaero Tweaker have a setting to remove them? 

I won't comment on the foolishness of trying to turn off a feature that literally keeps someone from ruining your computer.

The other option?  Don't have shortcuts to apps on your Desktop.  I will never understand why some folks insist on shortcuts on their desktop.  

  • Like 5
On 21/09/2023 at 07:26, devHead said:

I won't comment on the foolishness of trying to turn off a feature that literally keeps someone from ruining your computer.

You keep saying that but it is user choice, you are not entitled to demerit, just because you say so, somebody's choice on how they want windows to be handled.

 

On 21/09/2023 at 09:48, Arceles said:

You keep saying that but it is user choice, you are not entitled to demerit, just because you say so, somebody's choice on how they want windows to be handled.

 

Who is saying it's not an user choice? One can certainly comment that something is not a good security practice. You should not assume the OP has any idea what they are doing.  The fact they thought they "disabled" UAC (when didn't) and stated they don't need it suggests they do not.

On 21/09/2023 at 09:52, Good Bot, Bad Bot said:

Who is saying it's not an user choice? One can certainly comment that something is not a good security practice. You should not assume the OP has any idea what they are doing.  The fact they thought they "disabled" UAC (when didn't) and stated they don't need it suggests they do not.

You can warn but not demerit because for the latter you are also assuming the user understanding of what it is doing.

A trick that I use is to run programs that need UAC elevation through the Windows Task Scheduler.  I create a task that starts a program that needs elevation.  I make sure to select to "Run with highest privileges" and "Allow task to be run on demand".  Then I create a shortcut to run that task, like:
C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /Run /TN "The exact name of the task you just created"

That shortcut will have the command prompt icon by default, but you just right-click and "change icon" and point to the executable of the program in the task to select that icon.  You can also rename the shortcut to the name of the program.  That shortcut will now launch without a UAC popup and no shield on the icon.  Plus, UAC is still running at the default level theoretically protecting you a little.

 

edit: I forgot that I also select to "run minimized" so I don't see the command prompt when the shortcut is used.  So far all of my programs still pop up normally.

On 21/09/2023 at 06:48, Arceles said:

You keep saying that but it is user choice, you are not entitled to demerit, just because you say so, somebody's choice on how they want windows to be handled.

 

I can demerit.  The default is to protect the user. He doesn't want to be protected or think he needs to be.  I have an opinion that is different from his, and mine is the right one, because it's the one that protects my computer.  You're right, he can do whatever he wants and do not care if he wants to.  But I can demerit him. 

On 21/09/2023 at 21:26, devHead said:

I can demerit.  The default is to protect the user. He doesn't want to be protected or think he needs to be.  I have an opinion that is different from his, and mine is the right one, because it's the one that protects my computer.  You're right, he can do whatever he wants and do not care if he wants to.  But I can demerit him. 

To be fair, it's not even demeriting. You're just stating the facts.

On 21/09/2023 at 22:26, devHead said:

I can demerit.  The default is to protect the user. He doesn't want to be protected or think he needs to be.  I have an opinion that is different from his, and mine is the right one, because it's the one that protects my computer.  You're right, he can do whatever he wants and do not care if he wants to.  But I can demerit him. 

Suuuuure, just because you say so. Sere is a uno reverse card for you, if you really wanted to be secure you would not be using windows and since it is *my opinion* is the correct one. Typical.

  • Facepalm 3
On 22/09/2023 at 12:41, Arceles said:

Suuuuure, just because you say so. Sere is a uno reverse card for you, if you really wanted to be secure you would not be using windows and since it is *my opinion* is the correct one. Typical.

In the past that may have been true, but it's due more to obscurity not actual security.

 

macOS has vulnerabilities.
iOS has vulnerabilities.
Android has vulnerabilities (arguably more than iOS).
Windows has vulnerabilities.
Linux has vulnerabilities.
BSD has vulnerabilities.

 

UAC is the graphical equivalent of the sudo command on *nix, as such it should never be bypassed if you want to keep good security practices. 

On 22/09/2023 at 10:54, Matthew S. said:

In the past that may have been true, but it's due more to obscurity not actual security.

 

macOS has vulnerabilities.
iOS has vulnerabilities.
Android has vulnerabilities (arguably more than iOS).
Windows has vulnerabilities.
Linux has vulnerabilities.
BSD has vulnerabilities.

 

UAC is the graphical equivalent of the sudo command on *nix, as such it should never be bypassed if you want to keep good security practices. 

Every single OS has vulnerabilities... but then again, whose servers are most of the stuff being run on? Linux. And if there are vulnerabilities to be addressed is exactly there.

What's the point of running something as an administrator if you are an administrator and you have user account control disabled? Wouldn't that just run it in the security context of your current user?

On 22/09/2023 at 09:41, Arceles said:

Suuuuure, just because you say so. Sere is a uno reverse card for you, if you really wanted to be secure you would not be using windows and since it is *my opinion* is the correct one. Typical.

Problem is when you try to use opinion to defeat fact.

 

Fact always wins.

On 22/09/2023 at 22:07, DewThePDX said:

Problem is when you try to use opinion to defeat fact.

 

Fact always wins.

That is cute, therefore, you can demerit because of facts instead of using facts to advise of the dangers of having a particular setting being removed... not surprised really.

On 22/09/2023 at 21:44, Arceles said:

That is cute, therefore, you can demerit because of facts instead of using facts to advise of the dangers of having a particular setting being removed... not surprised really.

You keep using that word, 'demerit'.  I don't think it means what you think it means.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
On 23/09/2023 at 07:48, devHead said:

You keep using that word, 'demerit'.  I don't think it means what you think it means.

Way too late for you to say that.

On 24/09/2023 at 00:26, DewThePDX said:

It's really not.

All I'm seeing here is a pile of logical fallacies in search of a dopamine hit.

Cool, the only fallacy I see here is how a bunch of people that believe themselves security experts think that everything should be one way, the windows way and I seriously disagree with it.

On 24/09/2023 at 07:14, Arceles said:

Cool, the only fallacy I see here is how a bunch of people that believe themselves security experts think that everything should be one way, the windows way and I seriously disagree with it.

A bunch of people who think that the way Windows helps protect your PC is the correct way.  We're not security experts, but I would say that someone who wants to disable a security feature is also NOT a security expert.  Plus, it doesn't matter whether you agree with the way Windows handles security for the PC - heck, you're not even running Windows according to your signature.  So who are you to keep posting here and trying to correct others?  A fallacy means that something is false.  Are you saying that it's false to assume that having UAC enabled helps keep a PC more secure than when it's completely disabled?  Try running everything in Debian as root.  Would you do that? 

On 24/09/2023 at 08:44, devHead said:

A bunch of people who think that the way Windows helps protect your PC is the correct way.  We're not security experts, but I would say that someone who wants to disable a security feature is also NOT a security expert.  Plus, it doesn't matter whether you agree with the way Windows handles security for the PC - heck, you're not even running Windows according to your signature.  So who are you to keep posting here and trying to correct others?  A fallacy means that something is false.  Are you saying that it's false to assume that having UAC enabled helps keep a PC more secure than when it's completely disabled?  Try running everything in Debian as root.  Would you do that? 

Because you simply do not know and your assumptions are making you look rather silly. Sure I do not for the most part use windows, but I have to use it in my ROG ALLY because Linux is not supported there yet. And I have been using windows even prior it had a GUI for it to know how the entire PC landscape, as well as security, works and that is why I switched to Linux after Window 11 came in. TRUE, you expose yourself to dangers whenever setting administrator rights to everything and this is a problem for the user that does not know anything and handle such PC as a normal everyday use one, but that does not mean that such case has an use, for example, in offline PCs and or legacy applications.

The absolute view of the people that things should be handled one way here is just baffling, unable to accept that there are reasons to do stuff out of the conventional way, quite akin to fascism.

On 24/09/2023 at 07:50, Arceles said:

Because you simply do not know and your assumptions are making you look rather silly. Sure I do not for the most part use windows, but I have to use it in my ROG ALLY because Linux is not supported there yet. And I have been using windows even prior it had a GUI for it to know how the entire PC landscape, as well as security, works and that is why I switched to Linux after Window 11 came in. TRUE, you expose yourself to dangers whenever setting administrator rights to everything and this is a problem for the user that does not know anything and handle such PC as a normal everyday use one, but that does not mean that such case has an use, for example, in offline PCs and or legacy applications.

The absolute view of the people that things should be handled one way here is just baffling, unable to accept that there are reasons to do stuff out of the conventional way, quite akin to fascism.

Fascism?  What are you smoking bro?  The OP is not using Windows 11 for offline or legacy usage.  I'm talking in general about how UAC protects your PC. You're right; I don't know his use case, but I know that any computer with UAC enabled is generally more secure than without it.  

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • As I've been usually saying lately - we all can thank "AI" for this.
    • Friday Windows 11 preview builds are here. Insiders in the Experimental (formerly Dev) and Beta Channel can download builds 26300.8697 and 26220.8690. My Windows11 device on the Preview Channel just got 26220.8728. My guess is this build is a nightly update from 26220.8690.
    • Traffic has a surprisingly unexpected impact on your surroundings by Sayan Sen Image by Radik 2707 via Pexels A collaborative study by researchers from several Israeli institutions found that everyday pollution from traffic and industrial activity measurably changed the atmospheric electric field over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, providing new evidence of how human activity can influence the lower atmosphere. The research was led by Dr. Roy Yaniv of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Gertner Institute at Sheba Medical Center, Dr. Assaf Hochman of the Fredy & Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University, and Prof. Yoav Yair of Reichman University. The study also involved Itay Froomer, a student from Hadera High School and the Israeli Museum of Medicine and Science (Technoda), who carried out the work as part of the Ministry of Education's 5-unit physics research track. The researchers focused on the atmospheric electric field under fair-weather conditions. Even in the absence of storms, a weak electric field naturally exists between Earth's surface and the atmosphere. One of the main ways scientists measure this field is through the Potential Gradient (PG), which is the inverse of the vertical component of the electric field. PG is a key part of the global electric circuit, a planet-wide system of electrical currents maintained by thunderstorms and electrified clouds around the world. Scientists have long known that the atmospheric electric field can be influenced by factors ranging from large-scale atmospheric processes to local weather conditions such as dust, fog and clouds. Human-made pollution is also known to play a role, but understanding exactly how urban emissions affect the electric field close to the ground has remained an area of ongoing research. To investigate this relationship, the team analyzed measurements from a newly installed electric field mill, an instrument used to continuously monitor the strength of the atmospheric electric field. The instrument was installed at the Center for Technological Education (Roter House) in Holon and became operational in August 2024. It was funded by Israel's Ministry of Education and the Holon municipality. The electric field mill forms part of a broader monitoring network that includes nearby meteorological stations and air-quality monitoring sites. This allowed researchers to compare electric field measurements with detailed weather data and pollution records to better understand what was driving changes in the Potential Gradient. The study focused on two major urban pollutants: fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), both commonly produced by vehicle traffic and industrial activity. PM2.5 refers to microscopic airborne particles small enough to remain suspended in the atmosphere for extended periods, while NOx is a group of gases released during fuel combustion. Researchers examined daily, weekly and seasonal patterns in the atmospheric electric field and compared them with changes in pollutant concentrations. Their analysis revealed a clear relationship between NOx levels and changes in the Potential Gradient, particularly during morning and evening rush hours when traffic emissions were at their highest. “What we observe is a direct physical link between emission peaks and electrical variability,” explained Dr. Roy Yaniv. “NOx reduces atmospheric conductivity very quickly, so the electric field responds almost instantaneously during traffic rush hours.” Atmospheric conductivity describes how easily electrical charges move through the air. According to the researchers, nitrogen oxides rapidly alter this conductivity, causing a near-immediate response in the electric field. PM2.5, however, was associated with a delayed response. The researchers attributed this difference to the particles' longer atmospheric residence time, meaning they remain in the atmosphere for longer periods, as well as their different microphysical interactions with surrounding air and atmospheric components. The study also identified a pronounced "weekend effect." In Israel, traffic volumes and some industrial activity decline significantly on Fridays and Saturdays. During these periods, concentrations of both NOx and PM2.5 dropped, and corresponding changes were observed in the atmospheric electric field. “The weekend signal demonstrates just how sensitive the electric field is to changes in human activity,” the researchers noted. “When emissions decline, the electrical environment adjusts at once, providing a high-resolution indicator of urban atmospheric conditions.” The findings showed that pollution levels can influence not only the chemical composition of the atmosphere but also its electrical properties. Researchers said the results strengthened the case for using atmospheric electricity as an additional tool for environmental monitoring, particularly in densely populated urban areas where anthropogenic, or human-caused, influences are most pronounced. The study also pointed to potential public health applications. By combining air-quality measurements with observations of atmospheric electricity, researchers said they could gain a more complete picture of how urban atmospheric conditions change over time. “Integrating air-quality data with electric-field measurements gives us a clearer picture of how the lower atmosphere evolves moment by moment,” the researchers added. “It’s a framework that can support both scientific insight and practical environmental decision-making.” Beyond the scientific findings, the project highlighted a collaboration between universities, public institutions and secondary education. Researchers said the work demonstrated how students could take part in real-world environmental research while contributing to studies of air quality, atmospheric processes and their potential effects on society. Source: Hebrew University, ScienceDirect This article was generated with some help from AI and reviewed by an editor. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, this material is used for the purpose of news reporting. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing
    • We aren't even at the all-star game and Microsoft is talking about an update that will most likely be released during the World Series if not after. A lot can happen in the world between now and the 2026 World Series, including the 2026 FIFA Cup. Tell me about it again after the FIFA Cup is concluded. That should allow plenty of time to prepare for it.
    • Great, tell me when I have a "Bad Pool Caller" elsewhere not in Windoze.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      AMV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      AMV earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      541
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      186
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      79
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      77
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!