How to Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 11
Default desktop icons in Windows 11 are built-in shortcuts for core system tools like This PC, the Recycle Bin , the Control Panel , user files, and Network. A fresh Windows 11 installation only shows the Recycle Bin on the desktop, but you can turn on any of the five standard shortcuts through the Desktop Icon Settings menu.
Hiding or showing these system shortcuts helps keep your screen tidy and gives you fast access to the tools you use most often. You can change these icon settings in just a few clicks whenever you want to clean up your workspace.
Go to Settings Personalization Themes Desktop icon settings. Check boxes to add icons like This PC and Recycle Bin , or uncheck them to remove them from your desktop. Click OK to apply changes.
Open Desktop Icon Settings
Opening desktop icon settings in Windows 11 lets you manage standard shortcuts like This PC and the Recycle Bin . Press the Win+I to open Settings , search for Themes, and select Themes & related settings. From there, click Personalization, open the Themes menu, and select the desktop icon link to reach the options you need.
Alternatively, find and click on Personalization in the main Settings window, then select Themes.
Choose Your Icons
Choosing your Windows 11 desktop icons allows you to show or hide core shortcuts like This PC, Network, and the Recycle Bin . Open the desktop icon settings window from the Themes menu, check the boxes for the items you want to see on your screen, and clear the checkmarks for anything you want to remove.
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 you pick which ones appear on the desktop.
Check the box next to any item to add it to your desktop, or clear the checkmark to remove it.
Confirm Your Choices
Click OK to save your changes and close the window.
The desktop updates immediately to reflect the chosen configuration.
A Note About Themes
Switching your Windows 11 desktop themes can sometimes override your custom desktop icons and reset them to the defaults. Prevent this by clearing the checkmark that allows themes to change desktop icons, which keeps your personalized setup locked in place even when you apply a new look.
Switching desktop themes can trigger Windows to overwrite custom icon selections with default theme settings.
Prevent this behavior by unchecking the theme icon setting, keeping your personalized setup intact.
Summary
Tailoring the Windows 11 desktop with preferred icons creates a more efficient and personalized workspace.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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