Solved Desktop icon box size - width reduction?

I've tweaked my icon spacing such that I'm no longer getting the icons spaced out too much (using regedit in the Windows/DesktopMetrics keys) as can be seen in my screenshot. So I can move them as close to each other as I like, but the one issue I have remaining is that the size of the box an icon occupies is limiting the positioning when it comes to the left/right edges of the screen. I like to have a bunch of icons on the left and right edges of the desktop and I size my application windows so that I leave a bit of desktop on the left and right visible and have access to all those icons. It's helpful when the toolbar is full up with pinned icons and Microsoft don't want us to have a Quick Launch folder anymore.

Does anyone know how to reduce the width of the box that surrounds the icons? So that I can move them right to the edges of the desktop?

Here's a screenshot or two. One is Windows 11 that shows how I can have overlapping icons, but the standalone one that's selected shows the overly wide width of them. There's a Windows 10 screenshot for comparison with a similarly named icon. Notice how the box is much narrower.

I am not sure as that can be done

I don't seem to have this problem. Version 21H2 22000.527 I'm just using the stock settings and I can get the icons pretty much up to the edges.

GraulgesF said:

I don't seem to have this problem. Version 21H2 22000.527 View attachment 23662 I'm just using the stock settings and I can get the icons pretty much up to the edges.

Click to expand...

Well that's unexpected. I can't imagine why that might be.

Absolutely no need to mess with the registry when it comes to desktop icons when Aerotweaker will do it all for you. Scroll to the bottom and find 'shortcuts' Winaero

Hello d4005, :)

The overlapping of the desktop icons is from not having Align icons to grid below turned on.


Here you go for the icon spacing size:

glasskuter said:

Absolutely no need to mess with the registry when it comes to desktop icons when Aerotweaker will do it all for you. Scroll to the bottom and find 'shortcuts' Winaero

Click to expand...

I looked at WinAero already and here you see that they only offer the ability to tweak the horizontal and vertical spacing which you can see I've already modified in my original post (left) screenshot. Without them being modified, you can't get icons positioned next to each other so closely. That doesn't affect the actual width of the icon though (which you see in that screenshot on the win11.txt file.

Brink said:

Hello d4005, :)

The overlapping of the desktop icons is from not having Align icons to grid below turned on.

Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10

How to Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Here you go for the icon spacing size:

Change Desktop Icon Horizontal and Vertical Spacing in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change the horizontal and vertical spacing of desktop icons for your account in Windows 10 and 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...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

That sounds unusual, turning ON align icons to grid but I was willing to give it a try. I just did. It didn't improve anything. As can be seen in the screenshot below which has tweaked horizontal and vertical spacing and align to grid turned on.

The Align icons to grid setting is only to prevent the icons from overlapping each other.

The box around the icon will take all of the set horizontal and vertical spacing.

What is currently wrong with them?

Well, you could checkout Winaero Tweaker at Winaero. The app offers some flex for icon sizing. See attached pix. Good Luck!

​

OK, I've got it working. My mistake was adjusting the icon size and expecting it to immediately work. If you follow the instructions properly and log out/back in or reboot, then it does actually follow the value you set. In this screenshot I took it to the extreme and will of course dial it back up from there.

on my desktop the only thing I change are the metrics, for 1920x1080 I use


for me it looks better than the original
*logoff and logon to see the results

d4005 said:

OK, I've got it working. My mistake was adjusting the icon size and expecting it to immediately work. If you follow the instructions properly and log out/back in or reboot, then it does actually follow the value you set. In this screenshot I took it to the extreme and will of course dial it back up from there.
View attachment 28281

Click to expand...

Great news

Have I missed the point here but can't you simply dynamically change the icon sizes by mouse hovering on the icon and simply using the mouse centre wheel to increase / decrease size and text (and hence box).

Other thing you can do is create custom Icons -- program iconfx is a good one - use the last "free" version.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Have I missed the point here but can't you simply dynamically change the icon sizes by mouse hovering on the icon and simply using the mouse centre wheel to increase / decrease size and text (and hence box).

Other thing you can do is create custom Icons -- program iconfx is a good one - use the last "free" version.

Cheers
jimbo

Click to expand...

Hello Jimbo,

That would change the size of desktop icons like below, but not the horizontal and vertical spacing of desktop icons.

Brink said:

Hello Jimbo, :)

That would change the size of desktop icons like below, but not the horizontal and vertical spacing of desktop icons.

Change Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change the size (view layout) of desktop icons for your account in Windows 10 and 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...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

Hi there
Icofx - create custom icons is another possibility. Use the last FREE version.



Cheers
jimbo