Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
    Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10

    Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10

    How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    23 Dec 2019
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10


    Windows includes the common This PC (aka: Computer), User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel shortcuts that you can add or remove as icons on your desktop.

    This tutorial will how you to add or remove common desktop icons for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Settings app
    • Option Two: To Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Desktop icons
    Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10-desktop_icons.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    To Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Settings app


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.

    If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), type the desk.cpl ,5 or rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 command into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.


    2 Click/tap on Themes on the left side, and click/tap on the Desktop icon settings link on the right side under Related Settings. (see screenshot below)

    Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10-desktop_icon_settings.jpg

    3 You can now close Settings if you like.

    4 Check (add) or uncheck (remove) the Desktop icons you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10-desktop_icons-2.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons using a REG file


    1 Do step 2 (This PC), step 3 (User's Files), step 4 (Network), step 5 (Recycle Bin), and/or step 6 (Control Panel) below for the desktop icons you want to add or remove from your desktop.


    2 To Add or Remove This PC Desktop Icon

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Add_This-PC_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    OR

    Remove_This-PC_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download


    3 To Add or Remove User's Files Desktop Icon

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    OR

    Remove_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download


    4 To Add or Remove Network Desktop Icon

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Add_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    OR

    Remove_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download


    5 To Add or Remove Recycle Bin Desktop Icon

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    OR

    Remove_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download


    6 To Add or Remove Control Panel Desktop Icon

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    OR

    Remove_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

    Download

    7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    10 Refresh F5 your desktop to apply.

    11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 15
    10, 7, Server 2012, ...
       #1

    Shawn, I've been using some of your registry settings on Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials for both the default user and the current user and it has been going well until recently. Now I can no longer get the "This PC" icon to show and I get a rundll error when I try to enable it.

    However, I have found by changing the key:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System] to "EnableLUA"=dword:00000000
    and then back to 1, I no longer get the error. Just the first change fixes it, but the second returns it. Do you have any insight?

    Thanks,
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello sflesch, :)

    Do you have any issues setting this in "Desktop Icon Settings" from Option 1?
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 15
    10, 7, Server 2012, ...
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello sflesch, :)

    Do you have any issues setting this in "Desktop Icon Settings" from Option 1?
    Actually, that is where I find the issue. I have been doing some more playing and found that if I log in and back out, the error is gone. Ideally I would like to avoid the issue altogether so when a new user logs in, they don't see the error.

    I originally thought it wasn't enabling the This PC icon and broke it completely, but I just realized at some point I broke the script so it didn't enable the icon. I need to do a fresh load for sure to see if my script works, but I think the error still exists. I think changing that reg ksy though was a red herring since logging out and back in seems to fix the issue.

    Here is the script in case you are curious. It's actually called by another script, but I think I have narrowed it to this one.

    Code:
    :: Various registry keys from Shawn Brink:: Via https://www.tenforums.com/:: Script compiled by Sean A. Flesch:: 4:30 PM 1/29/2018:: Cortana options in taskbarREM REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /V SearchboxTaskbarMode /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F:: 0 = Hidden:: 1 = Show Cortana icon:: 2 = Show search box:: Combine Taskbar IconsREG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V TaskbarGlomLevel /T REG_DWORD /D 2 /F:: 0 = Always combine, hide labels:: 1 = Combine when taskbar is full:: 2 = Never combine:: Display Taskbar on Multiple DisplaysREM REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V MMTaskbarEnabled /T REG_dWORD /D 1 /F:: 1 = Show taskbar on multiple displays:: Combine Taskbar Icons Multiple DisplaysREG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V MMTaskbarGlomLevel /T REG_dWORD /D 2 /F:: 0 = Always combine, hide labels:: 1 = Combine when taskbar is full:: 2 = Never combine:: Use Large or Small Taskbar ButtonsREG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V TaskbarSmallIcons /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F:: 0 = Large taskbar buttons:: 1 = Small taskbar buttons:: Desktop Icons https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6942-add-remove-default-desktop-icons-windows-10-a.htmlREM REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel" /V {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /FREM REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu" /V {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F:: Show Explorer MenusREG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\AlwaysShowMenus" /V "DefaultValue" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /FREG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V AlwaysShowMenus /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F:: 0 Show, 1 Hide:: Show File ExtensionsREG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\HideFileExt" /V "DefaultValue" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /FREG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V HideFileExt /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F:: 0 Show, 1 Hide:: Show DrivesREG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /V NoDrives /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F:: 0 Show, 1 Hide:: Open File Explorer toREG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V LaunchTo /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F:: 0 Quick Access:: 1 This PC"\\d073456\Software$\(1)ImageTools\Scriptfiles\SetDefaultBrowser.exe" "Google Chrome"pause:: To kill and restart explorertaskkill /f /im explorer.exeTIMEOUT /T 3start explorer.exe
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15
    10, 7, Server 2012, ...
       #4

    I should clarify. The manual part of option one, not the command line. When I click on Desktop Icons, I get that error.

    It's nothing critical. Upon further research, once you log out and back in again, this also fixes it, so no need for the registry key I mentioned above. I guess that would be a red herring.

    It also only seems to happen for the first account created after running the script. I will have to do more research, but as long as I create one account (which is what I usually do as long as I remember) after running it, it doesn't look like any new future users see the issue. It's rather interesting.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Odd. I look forward to hearing your findings.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 15
    10, 7, Server 2012, ...
       #6

    I think I figured out the issue. It wasn't any of the registry keys, but when I'm done, I kill explorer.exe and then restart it. To confirm, I ran:
    Code:
    TASKKILL /F /IM explorer.exe
    TIMEOUT /T 3
    START explorer.exe
    alone and I get the same results. Once I log out and back in again, everything works as it should.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Interesting.

    Does refreshing (F5) the desktop help any instead of having to restart explorer?
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 15
    10, 7, Server 2012, ...
       #8

    Nope. Still need to logoff once.

    At least I know I can run my script and it doesn't totally mess the PC up permanently.

    I'll keep researching as I get time. At least I know I can narrow it down to a force shutdown and restart of explorer.

    Thanks for your help.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    If you like, here's a context menu you can add in the tutorial below to help make restarting explorer easier as needed.

    Restart Explorer Context Menu - Add in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
      My Computers


 

Tutorial Categories

Add or Remove Default Desktop Icons in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 19:51.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums