How to hide desktop icons on Mac

Sharing your screen with a desktop full of files? Hide them in one click, and bring them back after.

Short answer

macOS can hide desktop items, but the setting is buried. MacFixes puts it, dark mode, eject all and empty Trash in one-click toggles.

What macOS gives you

In System Settings → Desktop & Dock you can turn off “Show Items on Desktop”, and before that it took a Terminal command. Either way it’s several steps each time.

How MacFixes fixes it

  1. 1
    Add the fix
    Open MacFixes Settings → Everyday and add “Quick toggles”. Fixes are off until you add them.
  2. 2
    Allow Automation if asked
    Some toggles ask for Automation permission. That’s how they change the setting for you.
  3. 3
    Click
    Hide desktop icons, switch dark mode, eject every disk or empty the Trash from the menu bar panel.
This is one of 28 fixes in MacFixes.
Something else your Mac won’t do? Request it — we build it.
Get MacFixes — $1.99/mo

Questions

Are my files deleted?

No. Your desktop items stay exactly where they are and come back when you switch the toggle off.

More fixes macOS doesn’t give you

Keep your Mac awake›Lock your Mac keyboard to clean it›Pick a colour from your screen›