Forum Discussion

StopMessingWithOverlayIcons's avatar
StopMessingWithOverlayIcons
Helpful | Level 7
6 years ago

Add option to disable icon overlays in Windows Explorer

Please add an option to disable Dropbox icon overlays. It is so frustrating to remove Dropbox Shell Icon identifiers from the top of ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers list after each update!  It is disres...
desktop
Setting up the apps
sync
windows
klepp0906's avatar
klepp0906
Collaborator | Level 10
5 years ago

I'm gonna try the registry ownership-to-lockout "fix" as I dont anticipate adding any new software that will use the overlays at this point.  I imagine between linkshellextension, the cloud providers i use, and tortoisesvn/git that covers it.  Anything newer would potentially be moving away from them and using the method onedrive uses that does not "cost" an overlay spot.   Since the number of overlays alotted is evidently a major job to fix, microsoft deemed it easier to change the way theyre handled and I'm assuming software developers are aware and will follow suit.

The new icloud software from apple uses the new system as well.   AKA, dropbox either needs to make it possible to stop the leapfrogging or change to the new system.

I use "some" of the dropbox overlays, but when you have a total of i think 14 usable, taking up 10 every update is obnoxious.  A checkbox checkbox that says dont modify that registry key after the initial install is probably easy as can be to implement. 

About Apps and Installations

Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.

The Dropbox Community team is active from Monday to Friday. We try to respond to you as soon as we can, usually within 2 hours.

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X, Facebook or Instagram.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!