Windows 11 is gaining popularity among users due to its visually appealing design, improved security features, and core management. As it continues to attract users worldwide, we have decided to assist them by publishing articles on Windows 11’s primary navigation and How-To.
In this guide, we will explore the process of changing the icon size in Windows 11. There are various methods available that allow you to promptly and effortlessly customize the desktop icon size to better suit your preferences.
How to Change Icon Size in Windows 11
Changing the size of icons in Windows can be accomplished with a few straightforward steps. Whether you prefer smaller or larger icons, Windows enables you to adjust the size according to your preference.
To modify the icon size, you can utilize any of the methods listed below:
1. Using the Desktop Context Menu
The simplest method for adjusting the size of desktop icons is utilizing the context menu from the desktop.
Here are the steps you can follow to change the desktop icon size in Windows 1 using the desktop context menu:
1. Minimize the running apps. Then right-click on the Desktop screen.
2. Click on View from the context menu that appears.
3. Now, Choose the size you want for your desktop icons from the options available, Small, Medium, and Large.
2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
You can also use the keyboard shortcuts to change the icon size. You will notice that the context menu options for changing icon size have labels of keyboard shortcuts. To change the size of icons, you can use those shortcuts.
The three Keyboard shortcuts are listed below:
- For Small icons: Ctrl + Shift + 2
- For Medium icons: Ctrl + Shift + 3
- For Large icons: Ctrl + Shift + 4
Another keyboard shortcut is also available for extra large icons, but it is not visible on the Desktop context menu. For Extra Large icons, use Ctrl + Shift + 1. All of these key combinations work smoothly.
3. Using the Mouse Controller
This option is the most interesting one out of all. It is interesting because this option gives you two limits: the first is small, and the last is extra large. You can stick with any of the sizes that fall between this limit. Let us learn how.
Select all the Icons on the Desktop and then press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard. Now, roll the scroller wheel of your mouse controller.
While you roll the scroller, you will notice that the Icons’ size changes. Scrolling up increases the size, and scrolling down decreases the size of the icons.
4. Using Display Settings
Another method to resize your icons is by adjusting the display resolution and scaling. By increasing the display resolution, you expand your screen’s viewing area, resulting in smaller icons. Conversely, decreasing the resolution setting will enlarge the icons on your desktop.
Follow these steps to modify your display resolution and adjust the desktop icon size:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings for the context menu.
2. You will the display settings option. Here, click the Display Resolution drop-down menu to select a lower or higher-resolution setting.
3. After selecting the display resolution. Click on the Keep Changes option on the prompt that appears.
Note
Lowering the display resolution will decrease picture quality. By default, your monitor is likely set to its highest resolution. However, if it isn’t, you can make icons smaller by choosing a higher-resolution option.
5. If you wish to enlarge the icons, you can adjust the scaling while maintaining a higher display resolution. In the same display settings window, you will also find the Scale option.
6. Select the desired percentage from the drop-down menu to scale up your display content.
5. Using the Registry
If you are an advanced user, you can edit the registry. Windows 11’s registry contains an IconSize DWORD that you can modify to resize the desktop icons. To accomplish this, follow the steps below:
1. On the Windows search bar located in the taskbar, type Registry Editor and open it.
2. Now, you will see the registry editor window. Navigate to the following address:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop
3. Alternatively, you can copy the above address and paste it into the registry editor’s address bar at the top. Then hit [Enter] to open the registry for desktop icons.
4. Here, double-click on the IconSize option to open a value window for it.
5. Choose the Decimal radio button. Enter a number higher or lower than the current value in the Value Data field.
Here are some reference values you can try:
- 32 for small-sized icons
- 48 for medium-sized icons
- 96 for large-sized icons
- 256 for extra-large icons
However, feel free to enter any other number that suits your preferences. In this example, we will enter 30 as our value data to make the icons size smaller.
6. Then click on the OK button to save the changes.
7. To apply the changes, you need to restart your Windows Explorer. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. In the search bar, type Windows Explorer, then right-click on it and select the Restart option from the context menu.
8. Alternatively, you can choose to restart your Windows system entirely.
Once Windows Explorer restarts, the modifications made in the registry will take effect, resulting in smaller desktop icons. That’s it! You can utilize any of the aforementioned methods to adjust the icon size.
However, please note that these methods only apply to the desktop icons. If you wish to change the icon size for File Explorer, follow the method provided below.
How to Change Icon Size in Your File Explorer
Now that you have learned how to change the size of desktop icons, let’s explore the process of changing the icon size in File Explorer.
To do so, follow the following steps:
1. Open the File Explorer, for that, you can use the Win + E shortcut key.
2. Then click on the View option in the toolbar tab.
3. This will open a context menu where you will find several options for icon sizes. Select your preferred option. For example, if you wish to make the icons smaller, click on the Small Icons option.
4. This will result in smaller icons within File Explorer. As you can observe in the screenshot below.
Conclusion
That’s it; this is how you change the Desktop and File Explorer icon size in Windows 11. However, if you want to customize your desktop and folder icons, you can check out the detailed guide on; how to customize your icons on Windows 11.
