Windows 10 has a lot of new features and changes that you may not have known about. One of the changes is that the desktop icons are now customizable. You can change which icons appear on your desktop, and this can be a big help if you want to change how your computer looks and feels. Here are some tips on how to do this:
- Open the Start Menu and type “control Panel” into the search bar. This will take you to the Control Panel.
- In the Control Panel, click on “Desktop Icons.” This will take you to a list of all of the icons that are currently installed on your computer.
- To change which icon appears on your desktop, select one of these icons from the list and click on “Change Desktop Icon.” This will open a dialog box in which you can choose which icon you want to use for your desktop.
- Click on “OK” to make your changes and then close the Control Panel window.
By default, Windows 11 doesn’t display any special icons (such as “This PC” or “Recycle Bin”) on your desktop. If you’d like a classic Windows look, you can enable special desktop icons easily. Here’s how to do it.
First, right-click an empty spot on the desktop and select “Personalize” in the menu that appears.
The Windows Settings app will open to the “Personalization” page. In the list of Personalization categories, select “Themes.”
In Themes, scroll down and click “Desktop Icon Settings.”
A special window titled “Desktop Icon Settings” will appear. Using the “Desktop Icons” section near the top of the window, place check marks beside the special icons you’d like to appear on the desktop. For example, if you’d like to see the Recycle Bin on your desktop, check “Recycle Bin.” When you’re done, click “OK.”
After clicking “OK,” the window will close. You can close Settings as well. Take a look at your desktop, and you’ll see the special icons that you checked in the “Desktop Icon Settings” window.
If you change your mind and want to hide certain special desktop icons, just revisit Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop Icon Settings and uncheck the icons you no longer want to see.
Want to hide all your desktop icons instead? Just right-click your desktop, point to “View,” and toggle the “Show Desktop Icons” option.
When you’re done, you might want to continue customizing your desktop by changing your desktop wallpaper as well. Have fun!
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