How to Add Desktop Icons on Windows 10

By Sophia | Last Updated January 03, 2024

By default, only the Recycle Bin icon and the shortcut titled Welcome to Tech Preview are shown on the Windows 10 desktop, as exhibited in the following screen shot. If you want to add more frequently-used icons (e.g. Network, This PC, Control Panel, etc.) to the desktop, you can refer to the detailed steps below.

Video guide on how to add desktop icons on Windows 10:

Steps to add desktop icons on Windows 10:

Step 1: Find and open the setting named "Show or hide common icons on the desktop".

Click the bottom-left Start button, input desktop icon in the blank search box, and then tap Show or hide common icons on the desktop in the results.

Step 2: Select the desktop icons to be added.

As the Desktop Icon Settings window turns up, select the icons you want to add to the desktop from Computer, Network, User's Files and Control Panel, and tap OK.

Tip: The Recycle Bin option is chosen automatically.

Before long, you will find that the selected desktop icons are added to the desktop, as shown in the following picture.

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