How to Change Desktop Icons in Windows 10

The Three Ways to Change Your Desktop Icons

You can change desktop icons in Windows 10 through three separate routes: right-clicking the icon itself to rename or delete it, using the Desktop Icon Settings panel to show or hide entire categories of icons, or replacing an icon's image file with a different one. The quickest method depends on what you want to change — whether you're renaming a single shortcut, hiding system icons like This PC or the Recycle Bin, or giving an icon a completely new appearance.

Most people use the right-click method for one-off changes. The Desktop Icon Settings panel works best if you want to control which built-in Windows icons appear at all. Replacing the icon image itself takes more steps but gives you full visual control.

Key Takeaways

Right-click any desktop icon and select Rename to change its label, or Rename again to undo a change you just made.
Open Settings, then System, then About, then scroll down to find "Related settings" and click "Desktop icon settings" to show or hide This PC, Recycle Bin, User's Files, Network, and Control Panel.
Deleting a desktop icon does not delete the program — it only removes the shortcut from your desktop.
To give an icon a new image, right-click it, select Properties, click "Change Icon", and choose from Windows' built-in icon library or browse to an image file on your computer.

Renaming an Icon or Changing Its Label

Right-click the icon you want to rename. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Rename" — the icon's current name will become highlighted and editable in a text box.

Type the new name you want. You can use spaces, numbers, and most punctuation. When you are finished typing, press Enter or click somewhere else on the desktop to save the change. If you make a mistake, right-click the icon again, select Rename, and type a different name.

This method works on any shortcut or folder on your desktop. It does not affect the actual program or file — only the label that appears beneath the icon.

Showing or Hiding Built-In Windows Icons

Windows 10 comes with five system icons that you can choose to display or hide: This PC, Recycle Bin, User's Files, Network, and Control Panel. To control which ones appear, open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter.

In Settings, click "System" on the left side. Scroll down and look for a section called "Related settings" near the bottom of the window. Click "Desktop icon settings" — this opens a small dialog box with five checkboxes, one for each system icon. Check the box next to any icon you want to see on your desktop, or uncheck it to hide that icon. Click "explore" and then "OK" to save your changes.

These icons will appear in the top-left corner of your desktop. You can move them by dragging them to a new location, just as you would move any file.

Deleting a Shortcut from Your Desktop

Right-click the icon you want to remove. Select "Delete" from the menu. A confirmation dialog will appear asking whether you want to delete the shortcut. Click "Yes" to confirm.

Deleting a desktop icon removes only the shortcut — the actual program or file remains on your computer. You can still open the program through the Start menu or by searching for it. If you change your mind, you can right-click on an empty area of your desktop, select "Undo", and the icon will return.

Changing an Icon's Image

Right-click the icon whose image you want to change. Select "Properties" from the menu. A Properties window will open showing details about the shortcut.

Look for a button labeled "Change Icon" — this is usually on the Shortcut tab. Click it. A dialog box will appear showing Windows' built-in icon library. Scroll through the list to find an icon you like, click it to select it, and then click "OK".

If you want to use a custom image file instead of Windows' built-in icons, click "Browse" in the Change Icon dialog. Navigate to a folder on your computer containing image files (such as .ico, .png, or .jpg files), select the image you want, and click "Open". The icon will update to show your chosen image. Click "OK" in the Properties window to save the change.

This method works best with image files that are already icon-sized (small, square images). Large photos may appear stretched or distorted when used as desktop icons.

Arranging Icons on Your Desktop

You can move any desktop icon by clicking and dragging it to a new location. straightforward click the icon, hold down the mouse button, drag it where you want it, and release the mouse button.

To organize icons automatically, right-click on an empty area of your desktop. Select "View" and then choose "Auto arrange icons" to have Windows line them up in a grid, or "Align icons to grid" to snap them to invisible columns and rows. You can also select "Sort by" to arrange icons by name, date modified, type, or size.

Undoing Changes You Made

If you rename an icon and want to undo the change when ready, right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select "Undo" — this works for renames, deletions, and icon image changes made in the last few seconds.

If more time has passed, you can manually undo the change by repeating the same steps in reverse. For a renamed icon, right-click it and rename it back to the original. For a deleted shortcut, you can recreate it by finding the program in the Start menu, right-clicking it, and selecting "Pin to desktop" or "Send to" and then "Desktop".

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a desktop icon uninstall the program?

No. Deleting a desktop icon removes only the shortcut. The program remains installed on your computer and you can still open it through the Start menu or by searching for it by name. To fully uninstall a program, use the Control Panel or Settings app.

Can I use my own photo as a desktop icon?

Yes, but it works best with small, square images. Right-click the icon, select Properties, click "Change Icon", click "Browse", and select an image file from your computer. Large photos may appear stretched or pixelated when displayed as small icons.

What if the "Change Icon" button does not appear?

This usually means you are trying to change the icon of a file or folder rather than a program shortcut. You can only change icons on shortcuts (which have a small arrow in the corner). To change a folder icon, right-click the folder, select Properties, and look for a "Customize" tab.

How do I restore the default Windows desktop icons?

Open Settings, go to System, scroll to "Related settings", click "Desktop icon settings", and check the boxes for the icons you want to restore. If you renamed or moved icons, right-click an empty area of your desktop and select "Undo" if the change was recent, or manually rename them back to their original names.

Can I create a new icon on my desktop?

Yes. Right-click an empty area of your desktop, select "New", and choose "Shortcut". Type the location of the program or file you want to create a shortcut for, click "Next", give the shortcut a name, and click "Finish". You can then right-click the new shortcut and select "Change Icon" to give it a custom image.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.