How to Hide/show System Icons on Windows 11 Desktop

This practical guide walks through how to hide/show system icons on Windows 11 desktop, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

First, right-click on any empty area on the desktop and select 'Personalize' from the menu that appears.

You will immediately be taken to the 'Personalization' page of the Settings Windows application. Here, click on the 'Themes' section.

In the Themes settings page, you scroll down and click on 'Desktop Icon Settings'.

A special window titled 'Desktop Icon Settings' will appear. Look at the 'Desktop Icons' section at the top of the window, you will see a list of system icons that are allowed to display on the desktop. Check the boxes next to the icons you want them to appear on the screen. For example, To see the familiar trash can icon appear on your Desktop, check 'Recycle Bin'. When done, click 'OK'.

Now you can also close the Settings app if you want. Return to the desktop and you will see the system icons you selected fully displayed.

(Tip: You can zoom in or out on the desktop icons by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and scrolling the mouse wheel up or down.)

If you change your mind and want to hide some of these icons, just go back to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop Icon Settings, and uncheck the icons you don't want to appear on the desktop anymore.

In case you want to hide all the icons on the desktop, just right click on the desktop, point to the 'View' item and turn off the 'Show Desktop Icons' option.