How to Remove Learn About This Picture Icon in Windows?

The ‘Learn About This Picture’ icon appears on your desktop when using the Windows Spotlight theme, providing you with details about the current spotlighted image. Although this feature is informative, Microsoft does not offer a straightforward way to remove this icon.

To eliminate it, you may resort to editing the Windows Registry or using alternative methods. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to remove the icon.

1. Turn off Windows Spotlight

To remove the ‘Learn About This Picture’ icon, you can disable the Windows Spotlight theme. This action will stop the daily Windows Spotlight image from displaying on your PC, and as a result, the icon will be removed.

If you prefer not to disable the Spotlight theme, proceed to the next method.

1. First, use the Win + I keys on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
2. In the Settings app, go to the Personalization > Background section.

   

3. Use the Personalize your background dropdown to select an option other than Windows Spotlight.

   

4. Select the Picture option or a slideshow if desired.
5. Next, navigate to the Personalization > Lock Screen section.

   

6. Finally, change the setting from Windows Spotlight in the Personalize your lock screen dropdown menu.

2. Remove Windows Spotlight via Registry

Alternatively, adjusting the Windows Registry can remove the ‘Learn About This Picture’ icon. This requires creating a new registry key to hide the icon.

Editing the Windows Registry is a sensitive operation. If you feel uncomfortable with this process, consider using a third-party application instead.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt window.

   

3. Copy and paste the following command into the Command Prompt window:

   REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel /v {2cc5ca98-6485-489a-920e-b3e88a6ccce3} /t REG_DWORD /d 1

   

4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
5. The icon for ‘Learn About This Picture’ should now be absent from your desktop.

3. Use ExplorerPatcher

Third-party applications such as ExplorerPatcher offer more convenient ways to customize Windows. This open-source program, available on GitHub, allows you to remove the ‘Learn About This Picture’ icon, along with other modifications.

Download ExplorerPatcher safely from the official GitHub repository here.

1. Download the latest version of ExplorerPatcher using the official download link.
2. You can also access the GitHub repository to download the setup file.
3. Run the downloaded setup file to install ExplorerPatcher.
4. The taskbar may flash or refresh as ExplorerPatcher installs.
5. Next, right-click the taskbar and choose Properties.

   

6. From the menu on the left, select Spotlight.
7. Toggle the option Hide the “Learn about this picture” icon to hide the icon.

   

8. A checkmark will appear next to the option when it is enabled.

By following these methods, you can easily remove the ‘Learn About This Picture’ icon in Windows.