My Sharing Folders Icon - Remove & What It Is

Removing the "My Sharing Folders" Icon in Windows

Following the installation of Windows Live Messenger, a potentially unwanted icon, labeled "My Sharing Folders," may appear within the My Computer interface. This article details how to eliminate this icon for users who do not utilize its associated functionality.

Understanding the Icon

The "My Sharing Folders" icon represents a shell folder. Its purpose is to facilitate file sharing among contacts who also employ Windows Live Messenger. For individuals who do not engage with this feature, removing the icon can declutter the My Computer view.

Manual Registry Modification

A straightforward registry edit provides a method for removing the icon, mirroring the process used to eliminate the Web Folders icon. Begin by opening the Registry Editor.

Access regedit.exe via the Start menu search or the Run dialog box. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace

Within this key, locate the subkey identified as {FC9FB64A-1EB2-4CCF-AF5E-1A497A9B5C2D}. Deleting this specific subkey will remove the icon.

It is strongly recommended to export a backup of this key before deletion. This precaution allows for easy restoration if needed.

After deleting the key, refresh the My Computer view. The "My Sharing Folders" icon should no longer be visible.

Restoring the Icon

Should you wish to reinstate the icon, simply import the previously exported backup of the registry key.

Registry Hack Download

Alternatively, a pre-configured registry file can automate this process. Downloading and executing this file will apply the necessary changes to the registry.

To remove the icon, download, extract, and double-click RemoveMessengerSharingFolders.reg. This will import the settings into the registry.

To restore the icon, use the RestoreMessengerSharingFolders.reg file instead.

Download RemoveMessengerSharingFolders Registry Hack