Windows11 > How to Show Desktop Icons in Windows 11 (Full Guide)

How to Show Desktop Icons in Windows 11 (Full Guide)

Updated on:2026-03-24 06:49:55 Published on:10 hour ago View:0

Many users want to know how to show desktop icons in Windows 11 after installing or updating the system. By default, Windows 11 may hide important desktop icons like This PC, Recycle Bin, User Folder, Network, and Control Panel. This guide will help you show all desktop icons easily.

Windows 11 show desktop icons main settings

Why Desktop Icons Are Missing in Windows 11

Desktop icons may be hidden in Windows 11 for these common reasons:
– Default settings hide desktop icons after a fresh install
– Accidentally changed personalization settings
– System updates reset icon visibility
– Third-party tools modified desktop settings

Most of the time, you can restore desktop icons with simple built-in settings.

How to Show Desktop Icons in Windows 11

How to show desktop icons in Windows 11 step by step
Follow these steps to show desktop icons quickly:

1. Right-click on any empty area of your desktop.
2. Hover over the View option in the menu.
3. Make sure Show desktop icons is checked.
4. If it is not checked, click it to enable the option.

After this, basic desktop icons will appear. If you still cannot see This PC, Recycle Bin, or Network, continue to the next method.

How to Show This PC, Recycle Bin and Network Icons

Show This PC Recycle Bin Network icons in Windows 11
1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization > Themes.
3. Click Desktop icon settings.
4. Check the icons you want to show: This PC, User Files, Network, Recycle Bin, Control Panel.
5. Click Apply and then OK.

All your selected icons will appear on the desktop immediately. This is the most popular way to learn how to show desktop icons in Windows 11.

How to Fix Desktop Icons Not Showing in Windows 11

Fix desktop icons not showing in Windows 11

If desktop icons still do not show up, try these solutions:
– Restart your computer
– Update Windows 11 to the latest version
– Restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager
– Scan and repair system files

These steps can fix most icon display problems on Windows 11.

FAQ About Desktop Icons in Windows 11

Can I show only This PC icon on Windows 11?
Yes, you can select which icons to show in Desktop icon settings.

Do desktop icons affect computer performance?
No, desktop icons do not slow down your computer performance.

Can I hide desktop icons again later?
Yes, you can use the same View menu to hide icons at any time.

Conclusion

Learning how to show desktop icons in Windows 11 is very simple and only takes a few steps. You can use the quick view menu or desktop icon settings to display This PC, Recycle Bin, Network, and other important icons.

If you follow this guide, you can easily customize your desktop in Windows 11.