Green check marks on desktop icons

Anonymous
2009-11-10T23:14:51+00:00

Suddenly all my desktop icons have green check marks on them.  What does it mean?  How do I fix them?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-02-14T02:55:52+00:00

Suddenly all my desktop icons have green check marks on them.  What does it mean?  How do I fix them?

Hi,

Do you use norton 360? Norton -> Settings -> Backup Settings -> Backup Status Overlays -> OFF -> Apply.  After you run your next backup (you can do it manually) the check marks will disappear.

Hope this helps.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

210 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-05T19:17:23+00:00

    Thank you, this solved it for me.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-04T06:48:37+00:00

    J B Cross ...

    I think most people on here are kind of not seeing the bigger picture.

    ...

    WHAT CAUSED THESE things to pop up?

    Are they from a feature that is good or necessary and from Microsoft? Or is it something far more sinister that may become a more damaging virus down the track, that the "oh so lovely" REFRESH on the desktop won't fix anymore!

    Often the most important thing to identify is the cause or origin of the problem, thus it can be fixed and prevented and understood, allowing people to have a choice!

    If it's something that Microsoft have as a backend internal backup sync style program, then fair enough! No need to worry about trying to clear off the TICKS, just then wouldn't mind knowing how to double check the potential form of a backup, and how to adjust what it considers important to TICK (backup) or GREY X (not backup).

    Sooo to be a bit more constructive and something worth posting, in comparison to the mundane pages and pages of ... Ooh this worked for me, thank you heaps ... Lets use the tools provided that show thanks for the solutions given, and keep the banter at a minimum. OR if we've actually come across some proper information about it, post away!!!

    Looking forward to the outcomes.

    Regards

    Sage

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T05:37:16+00:00

    I had this problem. I don't use Norton (right now Windows Defender is my main antivirus).

    Here's the way I solved the problem was to right click on an empty place on the desktop, then click on Refresh. That made them all go away.

    It only seemed to affect the desktop shortcuts, nothing else. Any folders or files I had on the desktop appeared as normal.

    Thank you,

    Refreshing the desktop did the trick.

    I was thinking it had to be Avast Anti-Virus, if indeed Norton does this as well, but I am glad to have read your post, as I could not find anything proving the anti-virus to be the offender, and your help solved my need to not see green, lol.

    Appreciate the help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-29T07:19:51+00:00

    I actually am running Windows 10, and had green checkmarks too.

    I ended up canceling out of Microsoft OneDrive, which I don't use and then refreshed my desktop.  All icons went back to normal.  If you don't use OneDrive, try right-clicking on it's icon on the lower-right by your click, and telling it to exit.

    F5 will refresh your desktop. (or website you're on)

    Was this answer helpful?

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments