Here’s how to have a perfectly clean desktop without deleting any files.

Be careful when using the terminal. Type carefully. You can copy and paste the command below. 

To hide your Mac desktop icons, for example:

1. Launch Terminal from Applications ➙ Utilities
2. CarefullyType
   

   defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false

3. Press Enter
4. Now restart Finder by typing
   

   Killall Finder

    now click Enter.

If you want to reverse this: repeat the process but replace

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop false

with

defaults write com.apple.finder CreateDesktop true

Killall Finder