How to Show Legacy Desktop Icons on Windows 11 (and customize it)

The Recycle Bin is the only system icon you’ll see on the desktop when you start up a Windows 11 PC. On a basic Windows 11 desktop, legacy icons like This PC, User’s Files, Network, and Control Panel aren’t displayed.

You’ll need to follow these procedures to make these traditional desktop icons visible on your Windows 11 desktop.

Desktop Icon Settings

Press onย Windows Key + Iย to open your Settings.

Select Personalizationย and click on Themes.

Click the Desktop icon settingsย option.

Choose the checkboxes next to the icons you want to see on your desktop.

Click Apply then OK.

Customize Legacy Desktop Icons

Go back to yourย Desktop icon settings and selectย Change Icon.

You can choose the new icon you want to use orย Browse to use an image saved on your desktop.

Miguel

I started this tech blog back in 2011 as a place to write down processes I took to fix my client systems and network. Now I write some tips and tricks to help others with the tech issues that one might encounter.

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