How to show or hide desktop icons on Windows 11
You can always show or hide desktop icons, and here are four ways to complete this task on Windows 11.
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OnWindows 11, you can change the visibility of the icons on the desktop. You can hide them all, or each one individually, for a clean desktop without clutter. Or you can show as many as you want for quick access to your apps. You can even bring back the legacy system icons, including Computer, Network, profile folder, and others.
In this Windows 11 guide, we will show you the different ways to show or hide icons for apps on the desktop.
How to show or hide desktop icons on Windows 11
Windows 11 lets you show or hide all the icons on the desktop with a couple of clicks. If you don’t see any icons on the desktop, even though the “Desktop” folder has different contents, the system is configured to hide all the icons.
To show all the icons on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, all the icons on the Desktop will be visible.
Hide desktop icons
To hide the desktop icons, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the desktop will no longer show any icons, but you can still access them from the “Desktop” folder using File Explorer.
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How to add or remove desktop icons on Windows 11
If you only want to show or hide the legacy system icons, you need to use the Settings app.
To add (or show) system icons to the desktop, use these steps:
Once you complete these steps, the icons will appear on the Windows 11 desktop.
Remove desktop icons
If you no longer want a specific system icon, you can select it and use theDeletekey to hide it. Or you can use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the system icons will hide from the desktop.
How to add or remove any app icon on Windows 11
In the case you want to show specific apps on the desktop, you can do this easily from the system “Applications” folder, whether it’s a legacy or modern app you downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
To add app icons to the Windows 11 desktop, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the icons will appear on the desktop.
Remove app icons
To remove any icons from the Applications folder, select it, and click theDeletekey.
How to create custom desktop icons on Windows 11
Alternatively, if you know the app’s location, you can create a shortcut to show it on the desktop.
To create a custom desktop icon, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the custom icon will show on the desktop.
Remove app icons
To remove any icons from the Applications folder, select it, and click theDeletekey.
More Windows resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
