How to Change or Remove Desktop Icons in Windows 11

Windows 11's desktop icons, such as 'This PC' and 'Recycle Bin', provide quick access to important locations on your computer. However, if you prefer a cleaner desktop or wish to customize these icons, Windows allows you to change or remove them easily. This guide will walk you through the steps to personalize your desktop icons to suit your preferences.

Change desktop icons in Windows 11 from settings

Customizing the desktop icons can help personalize your Windows 11 experience. Follow these steps to change the default desktop icons to ones that better fit your style.

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on it in the Start Menu or by typing "Settings" into the Start Menu search bar.

2. In the Settings window, select Personalization from the left-hand menu.

3. On the right side, click on Themes to access theme-related settings.

4. Scroll down to the Related settings section and click on Desktop icon settings. This will open a new window.

5. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, select the desktop icon you want to change and click on Change Icon.

6. Choose a new icon from the list provided, or click on Browse to select a custom icon from your files.

7. After selecting the icon, click OK to confirm your choice.

8. If you want your desktop icons to change with your theme, check the box next to Allow themes to change desktop icons. This will apply different icons for each theme you use.

9. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes and close the window.

Removing desktop icons in Windows 11

If you prefer a clutter-free desktop, you may want to remove the default desktop icons. Windows 11 provides options to either hide these icons temporarily or remove them completely.

To hide desktop icons without removing them:

1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop.
2. Hover over View in the context menu.
3. Click on Show desktop icons to uncheck it and hide the icons.

To display the icons again, repeat the steps above and re-enable Show desktop icons.

To remove desktop icons completely:

1. Open the Settings app and navigate to Personalization > Themes as described earlier.

2. Click on Desktop icon settings in the Related settings section.
3. In the Desktop Icon Settings window, uncheck the boxes next to the icons you want to remove from the desktop.

4. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

How to change size of desktop icons in Windows 11

If you find the default desktop icon size too small or too large, you can adjust it to your preference using these methods.

To change icon size using the context menu:

1. Right-click on an empty area of the desktop.
2. Hover over View in the context menu.
3. Select one of the options: Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons. Your desktop will immediately reflect the change.

To change icon size using keyboard shortcuts:

While on the desktop, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts to quickly adjust the icon size:

By customizing and adjusting your desktop icons, you can create a Windows 11 experience that best fits your workflow and style preferences.