How to Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.
This tutorial will show you how to change the size and view layout of your desktop icons in Windows 10.
This tutorial will show you how to change the size and view layout of your desktop icons in Windows 10.
Starting with the Windows 10 Creators Update version 1703, you will no longer be able to change the size of desktops icons to a list, details, tiles, or content view.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Resize Desktop Icons using Scroll Wheel
- Option Two: To Resize Desktop Icons using Context Menu
- Option Three: To Change Desktop View Layout using Keyboard
- Option Four: To Resize Desktop Icons using a BAT file
EXAMPLE: Desktop view with small, medium, and large icons
To Resize Desktop Icons using Scroll Wheel
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1. Click/tap on your desktop, press and hold the Ctrl key and roll the scroll wheel forward and backward until you have the size you want for your desktop icons, then release the Ctrl key.
2. You may need to toggle Auto arrange icons and/or Auto align icons on and off to realign the icons on your desktop.
To Resize Desktop Icons using Context Menu
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1. Right click or press and hold on your desktop (Shift+F10), click/tap on View, and click/tap on Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons for the size you want. (see screenshot below)
To Change Desktop View Layout using Keyboard
You can quickly undo this to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout by restarting explorer during the current session.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
Desktop icons size and layout only remains in memory until you sign out. Afterwards, the current size and layout is saved to the registry, and you will no longer be able to restore your previous desktop icons size and layout.
1. Click/tap on your desktop, press and hold the Shift + Ctrl keys and press a number key 1 to 8 until you have the view layout you want for your desktop, then release the Shift and Ctrl keys.
This will not work using the number pad. You will need to use the numbers at the top of the keyboard.
Number | View Layout |
1 | Extra large icons |
2 | Large icons |
3 | Medium icons |
4 | Small icons |
5 | List |
6 | Details |
7 | Tiles |
8 | Content |
To Resize Desktop Icons using a BAT file
The .bat files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsShellBags1Desktop
IconSize DWORD
LogicalViewMode DWORD
Mode DWORD
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsShellBags1Desktop
IconSize DWORD
LogicalViewMode DWORD
Mode DWORD
1. Do step 2 (extra large), step 3 (large), step 4 (medium), step 5
Change File Icon Windows 10
(small), step 6 (list), step 7 (details), step 8 (tiles), or step 9 (content) below for what view layout you would like use on your desktop.A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Extra_large_desktop_icons.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Large_desktop_icons.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Medium_desktop_icons.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Small_desktop_icons.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
List_view_layout_for_desktop.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Details_view_layout_for_desktop.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Tiles_view_layout_for_desktop.bat
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 10 below.
Content_view_layout_for_desktop.bat
10. Save the .bat file to your desktop.
11.Unblock the .bat file.
12. Run the .bat file.
13. You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.
14. You may need to toggle Auto arrange icons and/or Auto align icons on and off to realign the icons on your desktop.
15. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Is it possible to change an icons size on the desktop individually? I have already tried using group methods such as CTRL and the scroll wheel but that just changes every icons size not the individual ones.
Francisco Tapia2,29733 gold badges1616 silver badges4040 bronze badges
shortyhishortyhi
1 Answer
No, in Windows all desktop icons have the same size. It's a global setting.
Torben Gundtofte-BruunTorben Gundtofte-Bruun11.6k3232 gold badges9393 silver badges132132 bronze badges
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It is not often that you need to resize a window using the keyboard only in the Windows operating system. Windows is designed to be used with a mouse besides the keyboard, and now touch. Every Windows user at least has a touchpad or mouse these days. However, if the keyboard is what you prefer to use, then here is how you can resize a window using the keyboard!
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To resize a window using keyboard only in Windows 10 and all earlier Windows versions, do the following:
- Switch to the desired window using Alt + Tab.Tip: see how to tweak Alt+Tab to enlarge thumbnails and disable live aero peek preview. Also see two secrets of Alt + Tab dialog in Windows 10 you might not be aware of.
- Press Alt + Space shortcut keys together on the keyboard to open the window menu.
- Now, press S. The mouse cursor will turn into a cross with arrows:
- Use the left, right, up and down arrow keys to resize your window.
When you have set the desired window size, press Enter.
You are done.
Modern operating systems like Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7 allow you to perform few extra actions with windows. They allow you to control the size and positioning of open windows better by dragging them to the edge of the screen. If you drag a window using its title bar to the top edge of the screen, it will be maximized. With the mouse pointer touching the left or right edges of the screen when dragging a window, it will be snapped to the left or right side of the screen respectively. This feature is called Snap.
If you grab the title bar of a window with the mouse and drag and shake it, all other background windows will be minimized. This is called Aero Shake. Both actions have their own hotkeys:
Win + Home: Same as Aero Shake (minimizes all windows except the foreground window)
Win + Left arrow key: Snaps an app window to the left.
Win + Right arrow key: Snaps an app window to the right.
Win + Up arrow key: Maximizes a window.
Win + Shift + Up arrow key: Maximizes/resizes a window vertically.
Win + Down arrow key: Minimizes a window if it's not maximized, otherwise it restores the window to its original non-maximized sized.
Win + Home: Same as Aero Shake (minimizes all windows except the foreground window)
Win + Left arrow key: Snaps an app window to the left.
Win + Right arrow key: Snaps an app window to the right.
Win + Up arrow key: Maximizes a window.
Win + Shift + Up arrow key: Maximizes/resizes a window vertically.
Win + Down arrow key: Minimizes a window if it's not maximized, otherwise it restores the window to its original non-maximized sized.
Aero Snap in Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7 can also be customized. While the operating system does not allow you to control individual options, you can use my freeware Winaero Tweaker to enable or disable snapping, drag to maximize and vertical resizing options:
Bonus tip: You can also resize a window to a specific size or move it to specific position using the free app, Sizer. Also, using the free AquaSnap's AquaStretch feature you can resize windows by double clicking their edges. That's it.
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