Windows 10: Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10

How to: Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10

How to Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10


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

You can also change the default icon used for Recycle Bin everywhere in Windows to be any icon you want.

By default, themes are allowed to change the icon used for these desktop icons. If you changed the icon of any of these default icons to what you wanted, you may not want them to be changed whenever you change your theme.

This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent themes to change desktops icons for your account in Windows 10.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
• Option Two: To Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons using a REG file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.

*note If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), enter the command below, and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings at step 4 below instead.

*Arrow rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0

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)



3. You can now close Settings if you like.

4. Check (default) or uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons box for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] To Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons using a REG file

*note The .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes

ThemeChangesDesktopIcons DWORD

0 = Prevent
1 = Allow

1. Do step 2 (allow) or step 3 (prevent) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Allow Themes to Change Desktop Icons
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Allow_themes_to_change_desktop_Icons.reg

Download

3. To Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Prevent_themes_to_change_desktop_Icons.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Mouse Pointers in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Desktop Icons in Windows
• How to Change your Theme in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for This PC in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for User's Files in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Icon for Network in Windows 10
• How to Change the Default Recycle Bin Icon in Windows 10

:)

 

Any Cure Yet for Desktop Icons Moving, Changing, Resizing themselves?

Right click on an empty space on the desktop. Go to personalize, select themes, click on desktop icons settings, uncheck the box that says "Allow themes to change desktop icons".

*Arrow Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10

Step 3: Profit

 

Desktop Icons Rearrange after Reboot

Hi Fernando,

There are several causes of this problem. It might be the display settings, outdated graphic drivers, or themes allowed on the desktop icons. Since this problem happens every after Windows update, we recommend performing some troubleshooting steps that are
applicable for the issue. We suggest that you follow these methods on how to fix this problem:

Method 1: Uncheck Align icons to grid option on your desktop.

• Right-click on the desktop
• Select View and then untick Align icons to grid
  option.

Method 2: Prevent themes to change desktop icons.

• On Cortana search, type themes and related settings.
• Choose Themes and related settings from the list.
• Under Related settings, click on Desktop icon settings.
• Untick Allow themes to change desktop icons.
• Click on Apply and then click on OK.

Method 3: Download the latest video or graphics drivers from the manufacturer's website.

Update us with the outcome so we can provide further assistance.

 

Windows 10 desktop icons not in order

In ccleaner, did you uncheck cleaning the icon cache... have not used in a while; however, I think that is what the option is called.

Now, if you are setting the icons and they move after you have set the settings and not changed them... you may have the "Random Windows 10 Icon movement problem".
Some people have this and some don't.

Here is a thread on the problem at Windows10 forums: Windows 10: Folder View Settings and Desktop Icon Positions Not Saving

 

Change the font of my desktop icons

Hi Domi,

Windows 10 make it easier for you to personalize your computer by going to the Settings app. Some options from Control Panel has been moved to the Settings app just to bring all the settings under one roof.

To change your desktop font, you may follow these steps:

• Go to Settings.
  
• Choose Personalization.
  
• Select Themes.
  
• Under Themes, select Theme settings.
  
• On the left pane, click Change desktop icons.

To change the font size of the icons on your desktop, refer to these steps:

• Right-click on your desktop.
  
• Click View.
  
• Select the font size you prefer for your desktop icon.

Should you have further questions, feel free to get back to us.

 

Windows vista x64 computer icon always changing

what icons are you referring to?
In the Windows Explorer list or desktop?