Solved can´t configure size of desktop icons on Win 11


RON WOLPA

New member
Local time
7:46 PM
Posts
8
OS
windows 11

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1

regedit started as admin , my new decimal value replaced the default 49 then saved , I reopened to check whether the value I typed was there [ ok , it was ] , rebooted to find the same default 49 back once again.
On previous Windows versions I was used to configure the desktop icons size by editing on Dword screen the decimal value.
Now on Windows 11 I can´t do it , it simply won´t work.
Any fresh idea on this matter ?
Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400 2.50 GHz
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400 2.50 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI H610M-G DDR4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Hard Drives
    PATRIOT nvmE
Any fresh idea on this matter ?
Welcome to the forum. Within Windows you still have the option of selecting small, medium, and large icons but there are many parts of the GUI that the user can no longer change without using one of the third party apps. I do not use them myself but you might look into Explorerpatcher and StartAllBack
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3447
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Within Windows you still have the option of selecting small, medium, and large icons...
For desktop icons, that's the choice you have when using right click on desktop, view.
But in Windows 11 there still is the possibilty to use CTRL Mousewheel, with which you can change the icon size much more precisely. I counted the steps after changing the size of the icons by using that to the smallest possible size:
1-11 Small
12-17 Medium
18-28 Large

So for the 'small' size there still are 11 'subdivisions' possible.

For the taskbar icons size one would indeed need a third party app if small size is desired.

Edit: Changing that does have influence on the value in the registry at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop IconSize
But only after logging out/logging in.
Smallest icon size: value = hex 10
Largest icon size: value = hex 100
But the other way around, changing the value in the registry, does not have any influence on the size on the desktop, not even after login/logout.
If I change that value in the registry, do a logout/login, the old value is there again!
So it must be registered somewhere else as well, where I don't know.

What I always do myself: set the icon size to minimum and count the steps for my favorite size, that I write down somewhere.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3447
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24E450F 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1. SSD Kingston NV2 - 500 GB
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
    PSU
    Corsair CV650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio S400
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper H412R
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream (wired, scissor keys)
    Mouse
    Asus WT465 (wireless)
    Internet Speed
    70 Mbps down / 80 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox 115.7.0 ESR
    Antivirus
    F-secure via Internet provider
    Other Info
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
Visual aid of right-click of Desktop:

1705764091111.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
On the desktop, hold down CTRL and then move the scroll wheel on the mouse to adjust the icon size.

Your chosen icon size will survive a reboot etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    G-Skill RipjawsV F4-3600C18 (16GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE278 (x 2)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    Samsung 970 Pro NVMe 512GB (x 2)
    ST10000VN0004 10TB (x 2)
    ST10000VN0008 10TB (x 2)
    ST4000VN000 4TB (x 2)
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 400R
    Cooling
    AMD Wraith Prism (Stock)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G213
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps down / 40Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox - Chrome - Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender - Clamwin
Hello Ron, and welcome. :alien:

In addition, here are some more options below to try to change the size of your desktop icons.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Hello you all ,
I was totally fooled.
Mystery solved : C:\Windows\regedit.exe X C:\Windows\System32\regedt32.exe
I found out that there are two regedits on Windows 11 as above.
During all the time I trying to edit regedit.exe with no result.
However with regedt32 is another story.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400 2.50 GHz
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400 2.50 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI H610M-G DDR4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Hard Drives
    PATRIOT nvmE
Back
Top Bottom