How to Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 11

Want to tidy up your Windows 11 desktop or make your favorite shortcuts more accessible? You can add or remove default icons by adjusting your desktop icon settings, allowing you to customize your desktop for better efficiency.

Windows 11 desktop icons act as shortcuts to system tools and folders. Users can control which pre-defined icons, such as 'This PC,' 'Recycle Bin,' 'Network,' and 'User's Files,' appear on the desktop. Windows 11 usually shows the Recycle Bin by default. Users can add or remove the Recycle Bin and other system icons within the Personalization settings.

Windows 11 settings allow users to show or hide default desktop icons like "This PC" or "Recycle Bin." Managing these icons creates a cleaner desktop and offers quick access to frequent shortcuts. Users can make specific icons appear or disappear within the settings menu.

• This PC: Lets you see your hard drives and other connected devices.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin: Where deleted files go before you permanently remove them.
• Network: Shows other computers and devices on your network.
• User’s Files: A quick link to your personal folders like Documents or Pictures.

Ready to change them? Here’s how:

Open Desktop Icon Settings

Opening the right settings menu is the first step to managing your Windows 11 desktop icons.

In the Settings window, find and click on Personalization. After that, select Themes.

Choose Your Icons

You can choose which icons show up on your Windows 11 desktop by clicking ‘Desktop icon settings’ within the Themes menu.

The Windows settings window shows a list of common desktop icons, including "This PC," "User's Files," "Network," and "Recycle Bin." Checkboxes next to each icon let users pick which ones appear on the desktop.

To add an icon to your desktop, check the box next to it. To remove an icon, uncheck the box.

Confirm Your Choices

After you have picked the icons you want, click the OK button at the bottom of the Desktop icon settings window.

Your desktop will update immediately to show only the icons you selected.

A Note About Themes

Windows 11 themes can automatically change desktop icons, but users can prevent these icon changes by unchecking a specific setting within the theme options. This ensures that personal desktop icon arrangements remain consistent.

If you switch your desktop theme later, Windows might automatically revert your main desktop icons to match the new theme’s defaults.

If you prefer your selected icons to remain unchanged, consider unchecking this box. This way, your icon setup won’t change when you switch themes.

Summary

Making your Windows 11 desktop personal with the icons you use most can make your computer feel more efficient and enjoyable.