How to hide desktop icons on Mac (and keep your widgets)

Hide them

1. 1Click Kakuchi's menu bar icon.
2. 2Turn on Hide Desktop Icons.

Your files are still in the Desktop folder in Finder. Turn the option off to show them again.

Without any app

In Terminal, `defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false; killall Finder` hides them, and the same command with `true` brings them back.

Questions

Are my files deleted?

No. Hiding only stops the desktop from drawing them.

Related guides

• How to add widgets to your Mac desktop

  On macOS 14 or later, right-click the desktop and choose Edit Widgets for Apple's widgets. For more widgets, free sizing and other places on screen, install Kakuchi and add them from its Widget Gallery.