This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent themes to change desktop icons for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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.
Changing your theme can also change your desktop icons to what's included in the theme.
Contents
- Option One: Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons in Desktop Icon Settings
- Option Two: Allow or Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons using REG file
EXAMPLE: desktop icons
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)
3 Click/tap on Desktop icon settings. (see screenshot below)
You can also copy and paste rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 into Run (Win+R), and click/tap on OK to directly open Desktop Icon Settings.
4 Check (allow) or uncheck (prevent) Allow themes to change desktop icons for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Do step 2 (allow) or step 3 (prevent) below for what you would like to do.
2 Allow Themes to Change Desktop Icons
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Allow_themes_to_change_desktop_icons.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStrCmpLogical"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"ThemeChangesDesktopIcons"=dword:000000013 Prevent Themes to Change Desktop Icons
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Prevent_themes_to_change_desktop_icons.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"ThemeChangesDesktopIcons"=dword:000000004 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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