Remove 'pencil' and 'screwdriver and wrench (spanner)' quick editing icons permanently

(If you only want to know how to permanently get rid of those quick editing icons, skip this and go to the bottom of the post)

We have received numerous complaints of bloggers seeing those "irritating" quick editing icons - the pencil quick edit icon for the posts, and the screwdriver and wrench (spanner) quick editing icon for the Page Elements (widgets). Personally they don't irritate me at all.

To me, these are really useful features, especially if you put a lot of HTML/Javascript Page Elements and you don't type a title for the Page Element (which is the norm). In the LAYOUT, they will all read "HTML/Javascript" and there is no way for you to tell which HTML/Javascript is for what unless you click on EDIT to look at what is inside. On the other hand, if you are logged in and you go the the blog, you will know exactly which Page Element you want to edit/delete and all you have to do is to click the icon and you will be editing/deleting the Page Element you want to edit/delete.

Permanently get rid of quick editing Pencil icon for posts

Sign into Blogger (Dashboard), click SETTINGS for the relevant blog and you will be in the SETTINGS > BASIC sub-tab by default. Just a bit down from the top of the page, you will see "Show Quick Editing on your Blog?". Click the down arrow and select "No" At the bottom, click "Save Settings". (Warning: There is a button "Delete this blog" very near that "Save Settings" button, and it is not uncommon to hear of bloggers who accidentally deleted their blog this way). Once you have done that, you will never see the quick editing Pencil icon again.