Customising Desktop Icons on Windows 10 for a Fresh Look
It can be pretty annoying when your desktop turns into a cluttered mess of icons. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all those shortcuts and system icons, there’s no need to fret. Windows 10 allows you to easily hide certain icons to tidy things up and make navigation simpler. This is handy if you’re about to do a presentation or just want to keep some stuff out of sight. The steps are quite straightforward, though they do involve tweaking a few settings.
Right-Click Magic on Your Desktop
Start by right-clicking on any empty space on your desktop. That opens a handy context menu. Here’s where the magic begins. You’ll see options for arranging and viewing your icons right at your fingertips. It’s a quick way to make changes.
Quick tip: Press Windows key + D to minimise all open windows and see your desktop in full view—perfect for checking how cluttered things truly are.
Accessing the “View” Options
Once the menu pops up, hover over “View”. This submenu is where you can control how icons are displayed. To hide all your desktop icons quickly, just uncheck “Show desktop icons”. Done! Your desktop will look much cleaner, ideal for focusing on your work.
Menu path: Right-click on the desktop → View → Show desktop icons
Toggle Icons with One Click
Unchecking “Show desktop icons” hides everything — but don’t worry, they’re not deleted. When you want them back, just check the box again, and they’ll reappear instantly.
Insider tip: You can even automate this process with some command-line tricks—write a script that toggles these settings whenever you like.
Getting More Control via Personalisation Settings
If you want finer control, open the Settings menu by clicking Start and selecting “Settings”, or simply pressing Windows key + I. Navigate to “Personalisation” then find “Themes”. Here, you’ll see a link for “Desktop icon settings”. Alternatively, access it through the Control Panel:
Control Panel → Appearance and Personalisation → Personalisation → Change desktop icons.
Select Which Icons to Show or Hide
In the Desktop Icon Settings window, you can tick or untick options for various system icons such as “Computer,” “Recycle Bin,” and “Network.” It’s a simple way to customise your desktop and prevent it from looking like a junk drawer.
Quick command to get there:
Rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 will take you straight to the desktop icon settings.
Getting the Most Out of Desktop Icon Management
Being clever about which icons stay visible can really make your workflow smoother. Having your essential tools just a click away is handy, especially in busy environments. For icons you rarely use, hiding them keeps your workspace tidy.
Additional shortcuts:
– Use Windows key + E to open File Explorer quickly.
– Tired of clutter? Try virtual desktops with Windows key + Ctrl + D to organise your projects separately.
– Pin your favourite apps to the Taskbar to save desktop real estate.
Common Questions About Desktop Icons
How Do I Hide Individual Icons?
Unfortunately, Windows doesn’t give you the option to hide specific icons directly from the desktop. It’s more of an all-or-nothing approach for desktop icons. However, if you want to hide particular shortcuts, you can move them to a hidden folder or use third-party apps.
Example: to hide a shortcut—use
attrib +h "C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\ShortcutName.lnk" to hide it from view.
Does Hiding Icons Delete Files?
Nope! Hiding icons just makes them invisible—they aren’t deleted. Your files and shortcuts remain safe and accessible via File Explorer if needed.
How Can I Bring Hidden Icons Back?
It’s easy to reverse. Right-click on the desktop, navigate to “View”, and ensure “Show desktop icons” is checked. Your icons will reappear instantly.
Can System Icons Be Hidden?
Absolutely. You can control which system icons appear by using the “Desktop icon settings”. For more advanced options, you can even use registry tweaks to automate hiding or showing icons.
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\New" -Name "{B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D6-DCF472042E17}" -Value 1 hides the Recycle Bin; change the value to 0 to make it visible again.
Can I Automate Icon Visibility?
Yes, you can! While Windows doesn’t include built-in automation for this, scripting with Batch files or PowerShell allows you to toggle icon visibility whenever you like, making your desktop management entirely hands-free.
Keeping your desktop organised doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few clicks and some simple scripts, you can say goodbye to clutter and enjoy a workspace that’s optimised for productivity. It’s all about tailoring your digital space to suit your needs, not the other way around. Hopefully, this guide makes your setup easier and saves you a headache!
Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
- Right-click on the desktop for options.
- Check or uncheck “Show desktop icons”.
- Open “Settings” for more detailed controls.
- Access “Desktop icon settings” to manage specific icons.
- Consider registry tweaks or scripting for automation.
Just a little tip that’s worked across various machines — hope it saves someone a bit of hassle!