Windows 10: Desktop icons revert to default size after reboot in Windows 11

Gui_G · Jun 4, 2025

I adjusted the scale and text size settings on my Windows 11 PC, expecting the desktop icons to retain their larger size after reboot. However, they revert to their default smaller size every time I restart the PC.

:)

Peter1986C · Jun 4, 2025

Remove Linux Desktop Icons

I am not sure whether this will work (Ubuntu does not have icons like that on the desktop by default), but I suggest opening the trash bin and sweeping the icons into the window showing the trash bin.

Riel Alc · Jun 4, 2025

Desktop icons change size on every reboot

Hi,

On one of my Windows 10 PCs, each time I reboot, my desktop icons change to a slightly larger size. I left-click the desktop and select View > Classic icons. The icons are then the size and arrangement I want. However, when I reboot (or shutdown and restart),
the icons appear but they are slightly larger than how I set them. If I left-click the desktop and select View, none of the three choices are selected. I can select Classic icons and them I'm good to go until I next reboot. The size change isn't huge, but
it's big enough to be a nuisance.

Instead of left-clicking the desktop and selecting View, I can click the desktop and then hold Ctrl and move my Logitech mouse scroll-wheel one click back to get to the Classic icons size I want. (Ctrl+Shift+4 also resets the size to Classic icons.)

I have Googled this and explored every lead, but I haven't been able to solve it yet. I have two Windows 10 PCs--desktop that's having this problem and a Dell laptop that works fine. Both have Windows 10 Home installed with all updates applied. View >
Auto arrange icons is off; Align to grid is on.

I'll be very grateful for any help with this.

John
Click to expand...

Hi John,

For better assistance, we'd like to ask the following:

When did you start experiencing the issue?

Were there any changes made to your computer prior to this issue?

We're looking forward to your reply

jacsdad · Jun 4, 2025

Taskbar icon size

When I first upgraded to Windows 11, the one problem I had was the size of the icons in the Taskbar. Being visually changed, they were just too small.

After some digging, I found a YouTube video by Kevin Stratvert ( ), that, in five steps, resolved the issue. This made the icons about the same size as small desktop icons (Ctrl+Shift+4). This was perfect and I have been quited satisfied with Windows 11 ever since.

Resize icons on taskbar:

Location in registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Click New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value

Set the name of the DWORD Value as “TaskbarSi” and hit the Enter key to save changes.

Large taskbar – TaskbarSi value 2

Restart Windows Explorer

Since applying 2023-02 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022913), the icons have reverted tom the original small size, so again, they are difficult to interpret quickly. I have removed the TaskbarSI from the registry and restarted Windows Explorer, the went through the steps above (adding TaskbarSi back), to no avail.

Has anyone else encountered this and are there any known tweaks that will restore the icons to their larger size.