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Windows 11

Show icons on my desktop windows

Show Icons on My Desktop in Windows: A Quick and Easy Guide

Missing your familiar desktop icons like “This PC” or “Recycle Bin,” or perhaps all your icons have suddenly disappeared? Don’t worry! It’s usually a simple fix to show icons on my desktop in Windows. This guide will walk you through the various ways to display all desktop icons or choose specific common system icons in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Why Are My Desktop Icons Missing?

There are a few common reasons why you might not see icons on your desktop:

  • Desktop icons are hidden: Windows has a feature to quickly hide all desktop icons.
  • Specific system icons are turned off: Icons like “This PC,” “Recycle Bin,” etc., can be toggled on or off individually.
  • Tablet Mode (Windows 10): If Tablet Mode is enabled, desktop icons might not be shown in the traditional way.
  • Accidental deletion or third-party software: Though less common, icons can be accidentally deleted or hidden by other software.

How to Show or Hide All Desktop Icons at Once

If all your desktop icons are missing, this is the quickest way to get them back.

Using the Desktop Context Menu

  1. Go to your Desktop.
  2. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
  3. In the context menu that appears, hover over or click on View.
  4. In the sub-menu, ensure there is a checkmark next to Show desktop icons. If there isn’t, click it to enable the display of your desktop icons. If there is a checkmark and your icons are still missing, try unchecking and then rechecking it.

This toggle will either show all your desktop icons or hide them all.

How to Show Specific Common Desktop Icons (This PC, Recycle Bin, etc.)

If you want to display standard Windows system icons like “This PC,” “Recycle Bin,” “User’s Files,” “Control Panel,” or “Network,” you need to go through the Desktop Icon Settings.

Accessing Desktop Icon Settings in Windows 11

  1. Right-click on an empty area of your Desktop.
  2. Select Personalize from the context menu.
  3. In the Personalization settings window, click on Themes.
  4. Scroll down (if necessary) and under “Related settings,” click on Desktop icon settings.

Accessing Desktop Icon Settings in Windows 10

  1. Right-click on an empty area of your Desktop.
  2. Select Personalize from the context menu.
  3. In the Personalization settings window, click on Themes in the left-hand sidebar.
  4. On the right side, under “Related Settings” (you might need to scroll down), click on Desktop icon settings.

Choosing Which Icons to Display

Once you are in the “Desktop Icon Settings” dialog box (the process is identical for Windows 10 and 11 from this point):

  1. You will see a list of common desktop icons:
    • Computer (This will show as “This PC”)
    • Recycle Bin
    • User’s Files (Shows a folder with your username)
    • Control Panel
    • Network
  2. Check the boxes next to the icons you want to show on your desktop in Windows. Uncheck the boxes for icons you wish to hide.
  3. Click Apply and then OK.

The selected icons should now appear on your desktop.

Adding Other Program or File Shortcuts to Your Desktop

Beyond the common system icons, you can add shortcuts for your frequently used applications, files, or folders.

Creating Shortcuts

  1. For Applications:
    • Open the Start Menu.
    • Find the application you want to create a shortcut for.
    • Click and drag the application icon from the Start Menu directly onto your desktop. This will create a shortcut.
  2. For Files or Folders:
    • Open File Explorer and navigate to the file or folder.
    • Right-click on the file or folder.
    • Select Show more options (in Windows 11, if not immediately visible).
    • Hover over or click on Send to, and then select Desktop (create shortcut).

What if “Show desktop icons” is Checked but Icons are Still Missing?

  • Check Tablet Mode (Windows 10): If you’re on Windows 10, make sure Tablet Mode isn’t active, as it can change how the desktop behaves. You can usually find Tablet Mode settings in the Action Center or under Settings > System > Tablet.
  • Restart File Explorer (or Windows Explorer):
    1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
    2. In the “Processes” tab, find Windows Explorer (or File Explorer).
    3. Right-click on it and select Restart.
  • Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can sometimes cause display issues.
  • Scan for Malware: In rare cases, malware could be interfering with your desktop icons.

By following these steps, you should be able to easily show icons on my desktop in Windows, whether you want to display all of them or just specific system icons, and customize your desktop with the shortcuts you need.