Maximizing Desktop Space: Shrinking Windows 10/11 Icons in Seconds
Learn how to reduce the size of desktop icons on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer with ease Follow our simple steps to make your icons smaller in just a few clicks Take it a step further and discover how to unlock an extra small option for even tinier icons on your desktop
By default, the desktop icons on Windows are set to a “medium” size. However, it’s possible to make them smaller with just a few clicks. In fact, Windows even has a hidden “extra small” option that can make desktop icons considerably smaller. If you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, here’s how you can do it.
You can easily resize your desktop icons by using the desktop context menu. To make your desktop icons smaller, simply right-click on your desktop, hover over the “View” option, and then select “Small Icons.”
This method works seamlessly on all versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11. However, on Windows 11, you can also use the shortcut key combination of Ctrl+Shift+4 to accomplish this task.
You can also use this context menu to hide all desktop icons entirely.
How to Make Icons Even Smaller on the Desktop
Did you know there are additional hidden sizes for desktop icons on Windows? These sizes aren't visible in the context menu, but you can still shrink your icons even further. Simply position your mouse cursor over the desktop, hold down the Ctrl key, and scroll down on your mouse wheel. Keep scrolling to achieve an even smaller size than the “Small Icon” option in the context menu.
Scroll up and down on the mouse wheel while holding Ctrl to fine-tune your desktop icon size.
You have the option to increase the size of desktop icons beyond the "Large Icons" setting by scrolling up on your mouse wheel. This can provide quicker access to a larger number of files stored on your desktop. Additionally, you can tidy up your cluttered desktop by selecting which built-in Windows system icons are displayed.
