How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.
Starting with the Windows 10 Creators Update version 1703, you will no longer be able to change the size of desktops icons to a list, details, tiles, or content view.
This tutorial will show you how to change the size and view layout of your desktop icons in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To Resize Desktop Icons using Scroll Wheel
- Option Two: To Resize Desktop Icons using Context Menu
- Option Three: To Change Desktop View Layout using Keyboard
- Option Four: To Resize Desktop Icons using a BAT file
EXAMPLE: Desktop view with small, medium, and large icons
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1 Click/tap on your desktop, press and hold the Ctrl key and roll the scroll wheel forward and backward until you have the size you want for your desktop icons, then release the Ctrl key.
There are 28 sizes available to scroll ranging from extra small to extra large.
2 You may need to toggle Auto arrange icons and/or Auto align icons on and off to realign the icons on your desktop.
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1 Right click or press and hold on your desktop (Shift+F10), click/tap on View, and click/tap on Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons for the size you want. (see screenshot below)
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1 Click/tap on your desktop, press and hold the Shift + Ctrl keys and press a number key 1 to 4 until you have the view layout you want for your desktop, then release the Shift and Ctrl keys.
This will not work using the number pad. You will need to use the numbers at the top of the keyboard.
Number View Layout 1 Extra large icons 2 Large icons 3 Medium icons 4 Small icons
1 Do step 2 (extra large), step 3 (large), step 4 (medium), step 5 (small), below for what view layout you would like use on your desktop.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Extra_large_desktop_icons.bat
Download
(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:@echo off REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V IconSize /T REG_DWORD /D 256 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V Mode /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V LogicalViewMode /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Large_desktop_icons.bat
Download
(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:@echo off REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V IconSize /T REG_DWORD /D 96 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V Mode /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V LogicalViewMode /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Medium_desktop_icons.bat
Download
(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:@echo off REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V IconSize /T REG_DWORD /D 48 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V Mode /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V LogicalViewMode /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.
Small_desktop_icons.bat
Download
(Content of BAT file for reference)
Code:@echo off REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V IconSize /T REG_DWORD /D 32 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V Mode /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop" /V LogicalViewMode /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe
6 Save the .bat file to your desktop.
7 Unblock the .bat file.
8 Run the .bat file.
9 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.
10 You may need to toggle Auto arrange icons and/or Auto align icons on and off to realign the icons on your desktop.
11 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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