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To add built-in icons such as This PC or Recycle Bin, open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, select the icons you want, and choose OK. For an app, file, folder, or website, create a shortcut with the desktop’s New > Shortcut option or the item’s context menu.
If all desktop icons seem to have disappeared, right-click the desktop, choose View, and enable Show desktop icons.
Add Windows icons such as This PC and Recycle Bin
Use this method for Windows-managed icons, not ordinary application shortcuts.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Open Settings and select Personalization > Themes. You can also right-click an empty area of the desktop and select Personalize.
- Select Desktop icon settings under Related Settings.
- Tick the icons you want to display. Common choices include This PC, User’s Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel.
- Select Apply, then OK.
To stop a Windows theme from replacing these icons, clear Allow themes to change desktop icons in the same window. Windows includes Recycle Bin by default, but you can hide or restore it here.
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Create a desktop shortcut for an installed program
Drag the program from the Start menu
- Select Start and open the all-apps list.
- Find the program.
- Drag the program from the Start menu onto an empty area of the desktop.
Windows creates a shortcut; it does not move or reinstall the application.
Use the AppsFolder command
This method is useful when a program does not drag cleanly from Start or when you cannot find its executable.
- Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter shell:AppsFolder and press Enter.
- Find the application in the folder that opens.
- Right-click it and select Create shortcut.
- When Windows asks whether to place the shortcut on the desktop, select Yes.
If the command is not visible in the context menu, select the application and press Shift+F10. The keyboard menu normally includes Create shortcut.
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Add a file or folder to the desktop
A shortcut is preferable to copying a file or folder. It gives you quick access without creating a second copy or changing the original location.
- Open File Explorer and browse to the file or folder.
- Right-click the item. If necessary, select Show more options.
- Select Send to, then Desktop (create shortcut).
Depending on your Windows 10 build, Send to may be shown immediately or inside a submenu. You can also use the desktop shortcut wizard below.
Create a shortcut from the desktop
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop.
- Select New > Shortcut.
- Enter the path to a file, folder, program, or web page, or select Browse to locate it.
- Select Next.
- Type a name for the shortcut and select Finish.
Add a website icon
- Open the website in your browser.
- Resize the browser window so part of the desktop is visible.
- Drag the site-information icon beside the address to the desktop. Depending on the browser, it may look like a padlock, information symbol, or sliders icon.
Windows creates an internet shortcut. If dragging is unavailable, use New > Shortcut and enter the web address.
Change a shortcut’s icon
This applies to normal shortcuts for programs, files, folders, and websites. It is separate from the system-icon controls used for This PC and Recycle Bin.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Right-click the desktop shortcut and select Properties.
- Open the Shortcut tab.
- Select Change Icon.
- Choose an icon from the list, or select Browse and select an icon source.
- Select OK, then Apply and OK.
An .ico file is the most reliable custom icon format. Windows can also use icons stored inside an .exe or .dll file. If there is no Shortcut tab or Change Icon button, create a shortcut to the item first.
Change the icons for This PC or Recycle Bin
- Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
- Select the system icon you want to modify.
- Select Change Icon.
- Choose an icon from the list or select Browse for an .ico file.
- Select OK, then Apply.
For a custom Recycle Bin icon, Windows provides separate entries for the empty and full states. Change both if you want the icon to remain consistent as the bin’s contents change.
Change desktop icon size or visibility
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select View.
- Select Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons.
You can also hold Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel over the desktop to adjust icon size. To show icons that are all hidden, enable Show desktop icons in the same View menu.
When a new desktop icon is missing
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Every desktop icon has disappeared | Right-click the desktop, select View, and enable Show desktop icons. |
| Only Recycle Bin is missing | Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, check Recycle Bin, and select OK. |
| Only the new shortcut is missing | Open File Explorer and check the Desktop folder. Windows may be using a OneDrive-backed Desktop rather than %USERPROFILE%\Desktop. |
| The shortcut opens, but its picture is blank | The shortcut may work correctly while Windows’ icon cache is damaged. Restart Windows first; if that fails, rebuild the icon cache. |
| The program shortcut has the wrong target | Right-click it, select Properties, and inspect Target on the Shortcut tab. |
Rebuild the icon cache
Use this when shortcuts are present and functional but display as blank or generic icons. Save your work first because Windows Explorer will be stopped briefly.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select End task.
- In Task Manager, select File > Run new task.
- Enter cmd.exe, enable Create this task with administrative privileges, and select OK.
- Run CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local, then run DEL IconCache.db /a.
- In Task Manager, select File > Run new task again.
- Enter explorer.exe and select OK.
Windows rebuilds the cache as the desktop and folders are displayed again. Do not delete random files from Windows or program folders while trying to fix an icon.
Shortcut versus application: an important distinction
Deleting an icon from the desktop deletes the shortcut, not the application, document, or folder it points to. To remove the actual program, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select the application, and choose Uninstall.
The Desktop icon settings dialog does not list all installed software. It controls a small set of Windows shell icons. For other programs, create a shortcut using Start, shell:AppsFolder, File Explorer, or the New > Shortcut wizard.
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft Support says that after October 14, 2025, Windows 10 no longer receives free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes. The desktop procedures above still work, but use a supported Windows version when possible. Microsoft’s desktop-icon guidance documents these settings and shortcuts.
FAQ
Why can’t I find Desktop icon settings in Windows 10?
Open Settings > Personalization > Themes, then select Desktop icon settings under Related Settings.
How do I put an app shortcut on the Windows 10 desktop?
Drag the app from Start onto the desktop, or press Windows+R, run shell:AppsFolder, right-click the app, select Create shortcut, and confirm that Windows should place it on the desktop.
Can I add a folder to the desktop without moving it?
Yes. In File Explorer, right-click the folder and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). The original folder stays in its existing location.
Why is Show desktop icons hiding my new shortcut?
Right-click the desktop, choose View, and turn on Show desktop icons. When this setting is disabled, Windows hides all desktop icons.
How do I make desktop icons larger or smaller?
Right-click the desktop, choose View, and select Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons. You can also hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel over the desktop.
What file type should a custom Windows 10 icon use?
Use an .ico file for the most dependable result. Windows can also load icons embedded in .exe and .dll files through the Change Icon dialog.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings for built-in Windows icons. For an application, file, folder, or website, create a normal shortcut using Start, shell:AppsFolder, File Explorer, or New > Shortcut. Use View to show hidden icons or change their size.
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