Configuring desktop icons in Windows is a fundamental task for personalizing and optimizing your workspace. Whether you're looking to adjust the size of the icons, change their appearance, or manage which system icons appear on your desktop, this guide will walk you through the necessary steps. Customizing your desktop icons can enhance your productivity by making frequently used applications and files more accessible.

Examples:

1. Changing Icon Size

   • Right-click on an empty space on your desktop.
   • Hover over "View" in the context menu.
   • Select your preferred icon size: Large, Medium, or Small.

2. Adding or Removing System Icons

   • Right-click on your desktop and select "Personalize."
   • In the Personalization window, click on "Themes" in the left sidebar.
   • Under "Related Settings," click "Desktop icon settings."
   • In the Desktop Icon Settings window, check or uncheck the icons you want to appear on the desktop, such as Computer, Recycle Bin, and Network.
   • Click "Apply" and then "OK."

3. Changing Desktop Icons

   • Right-click on your desktop and select "Personalize."
   • Click on "Themes" and then "Desktop icon settings."
   • Select the icon you want to change and click "Change Icon."
   • Choose an icon from the list or click "Browse" to select an icon from your computer.
   • Click "OK" and then "Apply."

4. Creating Custom Icons Using Command Prompt

   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Use the mklink command to create a symbolic link that can act as a custom desktop icon.

     mklink "C:\Users\YourUsername\Desktop\CustomIcon.lnk" "C:\Path\To\Your\Executable.exe"

   • Replace YourUsername with your actual username and adjust the paths accordingly.

5. Using PowerShell to Manage Desktop Icons

   • Open PowerShell as an administrator.
   • To create a shortcut on the desktop, use the following script:

     $WshShell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
     $Shortcut = $WshShell.CreateShortcut("$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\MyApp.lnk")
     $Shortcut.TargetPath = "C:\Path\To\Your\Executable.exe"
     $Shortcut.Save()

   • Adjust the paths as needed.