Ways to Remove the Green Check Mark on Desktop Icons

Green check marks on desktop icons signify that the corresponding files or folders are backed up and synchronized with OneDrive. These marks indicate that the data you've designated for backup has been successfully uploaded to the cloud service, ensuring its availability to you. They are simply an indication of the backup status and do not pose any harm to your system. To provide more information, there are typically two types of marks you might encounter: 1. **Green Check Mark**: This indicates that the file or folder is up to date and fully synced with OneDrive. It means you can access the latest version of the file anytime, even when offline. 2. **Syncing Status Icons**: Other icons might appear during the syncing process, such as a spinning circle or a cloud with an arrow, showing that the files are being uploaded or downloaded. To remove the green check mark on desktop icons, follow these steps: **For Windows:** 1. Open OneDrive settings by right-clicking the OneDrive system tray icon and selecting "Settings." 2. Go to the "Account" tab. 3. Click "Choose folders" to manage which folders are synced to your desktop. 4. Uncheck the folders you don't want to have a green checkmark on your desktop and click "OK." 5. The icons will update to reflect the new syncing status. **For Mac:** 1. Open OneDrive preferences by clicking on the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, then selecting "Preferences." 2. Go to the "Account" tab. 3. Select the "Choose folders" option to manage which folders are synced. 4. Deselect the folders you wish to remove from your desktop and click "Done." 5. The green checkmarks will disappear accordingly. Keep in mind that removing the green checkmark doesn't delete the files from OneDrive; it just stops syncing them to your desktop.

The cloud space offered by any tech giant enables users to consolidate their experience under a single environment, regardless of the devices or locations they are using. OneDrive is an example of Microsoft's initiative, allowing people to store their data in the cloud and access it from anywhere. If any of your desktop icons have green marks, it indicates that they are backed up online.

The Green dot typically signifies being online in social media platforms and other work-related applications. This holds true for OneDrive as well.

Why Do Desktop Icons Have Check Marks?

The checkmarks on desktop icons signify the same for applications and files as they do for files and folders. They indicate that the app or file has been backed up on OneDrive Cloud. The advantage of cloud storage lies in its accessibility from anywhere, as well as the ability to transfer our information to other PCs without the need for manual configuration on our new devices.

The check marks represent four types of backups associated with OneDrive, indicating various backup scenarios:

• Green Outline checkmark: This signifies that the desktop icon represents an online file. It is not accessible offline, but it can be downloaded as needed.
• Solid Green Checkmark: This checkmark means you can access the file offline and has been downloaded for offline use. It may take up space on your device.
• Blue Mark: A blue checkmark shows that the file is either being downloaded or uploaded. If a file has a blue mark, it indicates that it is being uploaded to OneDrive.
• Red Mark: A red mark indicates an issue with OneDrive while attempting to upload. This could be due to poor internet connectivity, incorrect synchronization, or syncing issues.

If you're wondering whether it's possible to remove the green check mark on desktop icons, the answer is indeed YES. Let's explore the methods to achieve this.

Remove the Checkmark from My Desktop Icons

We have explored four methods to remove the green checkmark from desktop icons:

1. 1. Disable OneDrive on your device
2. 2. Stop the OneDrive Sync
3. 3. Rebuild new icon cache
4. 4. Use Free Up Space feature

.Disable OneDrive on your Device

You can disable OneDrive to resolve this issue. The reason icons have checkmarks is because of OneDrive. Disabling it will prevent this occurrence altogether.

Step 1. Open the system tray and click on the OneDrive icon. This translates to: "First step, open the system tray and click on the OneDrive icon."

Step 2. Go to the settings section.

Step 3. Click on Quit Drive to disable the feature.

Stop the OneDrive sync

For OneDrive to upload your data to the cloud, it synchronizes with your device to upload the files. You can prevent this action by disabling the sync feature of OneDrive.

Step 1. Find and open OneDrive on your computer.

Step 2. Go to the settings section.

Step 3. Check the "Pause Syncing" option and choose a time frame.

< a id="rebuild_new_icon_cache" name="rebuild_new_icon_cache">Rebuild New Icon Cache

If the green check marks still appear on the desktop icons even after trying the above solutions, rebuilding the icon cache can be helpful. The Windows operating system stores copies of all desktop icons in an icon cache.

Steps to rebuild the icon cache:

Step 1. Search for the Command Prompt and open it. Make sure to "Run it as administrator."

Step 2. Enter the following commands in the same order as listed, and press "Enter" after each one.

exe-show

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F  (note: - your desktop will go blank)

DEL /A /Q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db"

DEL /A /F /Q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*"

Shutdown /p This command in English translates to: Shut down the computer

Step 3. Your PC will automatically shut down and restart again after a few seconds.

Use the Free Up Space Feature

OneDrive provides a "Free Up Space" feature to clear the copied files from your OneDrive storage. Once you use this feature, you'll notice that green checkmarks vanish from the desktop icons. You can even go ahead and remove these files from the desktop; this won't affect the original files. However, each time you want to access them, you'll need to manually search for and open them.

To utilize this feature, right-click on the icon with a green checkmark and select the "Free Up Space" option. Repeat this procedure for each icon displaying a green mark.

Green check marks on your PC typically indicate that the files or folders have been successfully backed up by OneDrive. This is not a severe issue but rather a sign of synchronization and data security. If the issue continues even after attempting all remedies, you can refer to this solution thread from the Microsoft Community: Microsoft Community, where you can find additional answers and support.

Final Verdict can be translated into English as "Ultimate Judgment" or "Final Ruling."

Green checkmarks signify that the files have been uploaded to OneDrive. They do not represent anonymous malware or viruses impacting your device. To消除桌面图标的绿色复选标记, you need to adjust your OneDrive settings. If the issue continues, you can attempt to rebuild the icon cache on your device to eliminate them.

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