Windows 10: Change Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10

How to: Change Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10

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















OPTION ONE [/i] To Resize Desktop Icons using Scroll Wheel
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 align icons on and off to realign the icons on your desktop.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Resize Desktop Icons using Context Menu
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)









OPTION THREE [/i] To Change Desktop View Layout using Keyboard
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.


[table][tr][td]Number[/td] [td]View Layout[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]1[/td] [td]Extra large icons[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]2[/td] [td]Large icons[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]3[/td] [td]Medium icons[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]4[/td] [td]Small icons[/td] [/tr] [/table]






OPTION FOUR [/i] To Resize Desktop Icons using a BAT file
The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

IconSize DWORD

LogicalViewMode DWORD

Mode DWORD


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.


2. To Use Extra Large Icons 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

3. To Use Large Icons on Your Desktop
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

4. To Use Medium Icons on Your Desktop
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

5. To Use Small Icons on Your Desktop
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
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 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


Related Tutorials

• How to Change Text Size for Icons in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Auto Arrange Desktop Icons in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10
• How to Hide or Show All Icons on Your Desktop in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Common Desktop Icons in Windows 10
• How to Change Desktop Icon Horizontal and Vertical Spacing in Windows 10
• How to Change the Layout View of a Folder in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Drop Shadows for Icon Labels on Desktop in Windows

:)

 

how can you change icon script size in windows 10 creator

Just updated to windows 10 creator

Now I find I can't change desktop icon script size

I don't mean change the size of everything from100% size to 125% or 150% etc, just the labels on my desktop shortcut icons

 

how do I change windows 10 icon size and spacing on the desktop

how do I change windows 10 icon size and spacing on the desktop

 

Absolutely @Cliff S! *Thumbs

Also remember:
You can adjust the size of icons in column view with Ctrl+Mouse Wheel:

 

And......

As the desktop is a virtual folder, the columns become scrollable, with enough icons added, and a scroll bar on the right as well!

 

Thank you Cliff. I added OPTION THREE to the tutorial for this. *Smile

 

*ThumbsIt's really only useful if you use your desktop as a work area, with a lot of files and folder and it helps organize a little better.(my first screenshot)

 

For #6 Details view, right clicking the header gives a drop down menu.




selecting more, let's you add more information.

 

I have just registered to seek help from you awesome people. After the latest update, Ctrl + Shift + 5 through 8 (as well as the .bat files uploaded here) are not working. Please let us know the fix or at least any workarounds. Thanks a million!

 

Hello @mahmudhussain, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Unfortunately, those views are no longer available starting with the Windows 10 Creators Update.

 

Is there any workarounds available, good sir?

 

None that I know of so far. *Sad

 

Can I weigh you with a workaround I've been working on — not on my own but depending on helps and tweaks of other wonderful users — but couldn't get it fully to work?

I can install DesktopListView or DesktopFolderSwitcher, and both of them are able to provide with a list view of the Desktop icons. However, with my dual monitor setup the texts of the icons remain okay, but the icons themselves disappear…