Personalization Add or Remove Desktop Icons in Windows 11


Desktop_banner.png

This tutorial will how you to add or remove common desktop icons for your account in Windows 11.

The desktop (Win+D) is your home screen and working space in Windows that contains the taskbar and any icons (ex: shortcuts, files, folders, etc...) you add to and arrange on the desktop.

Windows includes the common This PC (aka: Computer), User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel shortcuts that you can add or remove as icons on your desktop.

Reference:

Show desktop icons in Windows - Microsoft Support

How to display desktop icons in Windows.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com


Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove Desktop Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
  • Option Two: Add or Remove Desktop Icons using REG file


EXAMPLE: desktop icons

Desktop_icons.jpg





Option One

Add or Remove Desktop Icons in Desktop Icon Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Themes on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Desktop_icon_settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Desktop icon settings. (see screenshot below)

You can also copy and paste control desk.cpl,,0 into Run (Win+R), and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings.


Desktop_icon_settings-2.png

4 Check (add) or uncheck (remove) the Desktop icons you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Desktop_icon_settings-3.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Add or Remove Desktop Icons using REG file


1 Do step 2 (This PC), step 3 (User's Files), step 4 (Network), step 5 (Recycle Bin), and/or step 6 (Control Panel) below for the desktop icons you want to add or remove.

2 To Add or Remove This PC Desktop Icon

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Add_This-PC_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000

OR​

Remove_This-PC_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000001
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000001

3 To Add or Remove User's Files Desktop Icon

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}"=dword:00000000
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}"=dword:00000000

OR​

Remove_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}"=dword:00000001
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}"=dword:00000001

4 To Add or Remove Network Desktop Icon

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Add_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}"=dword:00000000
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}"=dword:00000000

OR​

Remove_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}"=dword:00000001
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}"=dword:00000001

5 To Add or Remove Recycle Bin Desktop Icon

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000000
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000000

OR​

Remove_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000001
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"=dword:00000001

6 To Add or Remove Control Panel Desktop Icon

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}"=dword:00000000
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}"=dword:00000000

OR​

Remove_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}"=dword:00000001
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
"{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}"=dword:00000001

7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

10 Refresh F5 your desktop to apply.

11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
Can you do this for Microsoft Edge? I remember being able to do this for Internet Explorer and you could access the internet properties instead of being a generic shortcut.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 21H2 22000.51
Option One, Step 3 you can just type control desk.cpl,,0 in the Run dialog and press Enter.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
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