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To hide or restore all desktop icons, right-click an empty area of the desktop and select View > Show desktop icons. For one built-in icon, such as Recycle Bin, use Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. To show hidden files and folders in File Explorer, select View > Show > Hidden items. These are separate controls: changing one does not change the others.
Hide or show every desktop icon
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
- Select View.
- Select Show desktop icons to toggle the icons off or on. When the option is checked, desktop icons are shown; select it again to hide them.
This toggle temporarily hides the icons; it does not delete the files or shortcuts. When icons are hidden, you can still open File Explorer and select Desktop in its navigation pane to browse desktop contents. Microsoft’s desktop icon instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Show or hide a built-in system icon
If other desktop icons are visible but you want to change only icons such as This PC or Recycle Bin, adjust the system-icon selection:
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- Select Desktop icon settings.
- Check the system icons you want displayed, then select OK. Clear a checkbox to hide that icon.
Available choices include This PC, Recycle Bin, Network, and the user’s files. This setting controls selected built-in icons, not every desktop shortcut. Microsoft documents the desktop icon settings.
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Show hidden files and folders in File Explorer
To view items marked hidden in File Explorer, open File Explorer and select View > Show > Hidden items. Select the option again to turn the display off. This changes what File Explorer shows; it does not restore desktop icons or change the all-icons toggle. Microsoft lists this procedure for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its hidden files and folders guidance.
Troubleshoot missing desktop icons or files
No desktop icons are visible
Right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is checked. If it is unchecked, select it to restore the icons. Microsoft’s Recycle Bin troubleshooting guidance also recommends checking this setting when the desktop shows no icons.
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Only Recycle Bin or another built-in icon is missing
Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings, check the missing icon, and select OK. This is the relevant control when other desktop icons remain visible.
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Expected files or shortcuts are absent
Open the Desktop folder in File Explorer and check whether the items are there. If you are viewing the wrong Desktop folder, its location may be under OneDrive or a work or school account. Microsoft’s OneDrive troubleshooting guidance recommends checking the Desktop folder’s location.
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Windows 10 support status
These Microsoft procedures list both Windows 10 and Windows 11, but that does not mean both operating systems have the same support status. Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The end of support is separate from whether a desktop or File Explorer setting is available.
Menu labels may vary with Windows release and display language. The cited File Explorer guidance is from Microsoft Support’s Great Britain site; the desktop icon guidance is US English.
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