How to Make Desktop Icons Smaller: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Make Desktop Icons Smaller through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 5:

Windows 10, 8.1, 7, and Vista

Right-click an empty area of the desktop. ^{[1]XResearch source} A context menu will appear, displaying several different options.
Select 'View' to expand the next menu. The top three options on this menu show different icon sizes. You will notice a checkmark next to your desktop icons' current size.
Click either 'Medium' or 'Small' to reduce the size of your icons. If your icon size is currently set to Large, try reducing it to Medium first. If it's presently set to medium, set it to Small.
- In Windows Vista, 'Small' is called 'Classic'.^{[2]XResearch source}

Method 2 of 5:

Mac OS X

Right-click an empty area of the desktop, then select 'Show View Options'. A dialog box will appear containing desktop customization options.
Move the slider beneath 'Icon Size' to the left. The current icon size is displayed (in pixels) next to 'Icon Size' at the top of the window (e. g., 48 x 48). As you move the slider to the left, the Icon Size value will decrease.
- The smaller the number, the smaller the icons.
- The smallest possible icon size is 16 x 16, and the largest is 128 x 128.
Click the red 'Close' button at the top corner of the window to commit your changes. If you are dissatisfied with your changes, return to the View Options and try a different size.

Method 3 of 5:

Windows XP

Right-click an empty area on the desktop, then click 'Properties'.
Click Advanced.
Select "Icon" from the 'Item' drop-down menu.
Enter a smaller number into the 'Size' field. To the right of the Size field (which contains the current icon size in pixels), you will see two arrows�one pointing up, the other down. Click the downward-pointing arrow to decrease the number.
Click 'OK' to save your changes and return to the desktop. If you are dissatisfied with the new icon size, return to the Advanced screen and adjust the size.

Method 4 of 5:

Disabling Zoom Mode in iOS

Open the Settings app, then select 'Display and Brightness'. ^{[3]XResearch source} While there's no way to customize the size of your icons on your iPhone or iPad, there is a way to fix the issue of your device having abnormally large icons. If your device wound up in Zoom Mode, it's easy to turn it off.
- If the icons are too large to navigate to the Settings app, double-tap the screen with three fingers to zoom out, then try again.
Look at the entry for 'View' beneath 'Display Mode'. ^{[4]XResearch source} There are two possible options here:
- Standard: If the view is set to 'Standard', your phone is not in Zoom Mode, and you won't be able to make the icons smaller.
- Zoomed: If it is set to 'Zoomed', changing it to 'Standard' will reduce the icon size.
Tap 'Zoomed' (if present). Now you will see a new screen that says 'Display Zoom' at its top.
Tap 'Standard', then tap 'Set'. This will reduce the home screen (and the icons) to its normal, smaller size.

Method 5 of 5:

Android

Tap and hold your finger on a blank area of the desktop. ^{[5]XResearch source} Some manufacturers include the ability to customize icon size in their versions of Android.^{[6]XResearch source} On some Sony phones (and possibly others), this action will open a toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Select 'Home Settings' or 'Desktop Settings'.
Tap 'Icon Size' to view size options. Some phones will have two options�small and large�while others may allow you to be more specific in your customization.
Select 'Small', then navigate back to the desktop to view your changes.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Make Desktop Icons Smaller?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.