Native icon layer
Windows draws desktop icons through an Explorer-owned view. DeskDrawer reads the same items that view lists, draws them inside boards, and hides the original view so you do not see every icon twice.
The guarantees#
- Hiding is session-only. It is not written into your Windows settings.
- Quitting DeskDrawer restores the layer immediately.
- If DeskDrawer stops unexpectedly, the layer comes back at your next sign-in regardless.
- You can show it at any time without quitting, from Switch view in the Tray menu — see View mode.
- Boards and native icons are never displayed simultaneously, because that would show every item twice.
If you ever find the desktop empty and DeskDrawer is not running, right-click the desktop → View → Show desktop icons restores it immediately. Troubleshooting covers this case.