How to show full file names with desktop icons

ixodid · 24 Jan 2011

Is there a way I can have the full file names displayed with the desktop icons without having to click on the icon?

mitchell65 · 24 Jan 2011

Well you could just increase the width of the spacing on the desktop icons so that it will show more text. To do his. Rt Click on Desktop. Click Personalize, Click Windows Color the click on "Advanced Appearance settings" Then Click the The black down arrow head against Items, then scroll down to Icon Spacing Horizontal and adjust this to larger. This should show more text. Might also help to make the text smaller too. This is done in the same way. You will see the text box under "Items"

Aurora · 24 Jan 2011

Hey Mitchell, I tried Icon Spacing Horizontal from 2 to 150 and none of the fields in the Icon space changed, smaller or larger. They stayed the exact same size as when I started. Just came across this and thought I would try it. It's not that important to me so you don't need to answer this. Thanks for all your help all over this board! Your helpful fingerprints are everywhere!!! Yea!

ixodid · 26 Jan 2011

I tried increasing horizontal and vertical spacing quite a bit and it did help as expected, but not for all icons.

Any further ideas? I know this issue may sound picky but I spend a lot of time mousing over icons to see what the file is since I have many files of similar names.

( I realize I may need to re-think how I organize my desktop. )

Might also help to make the text smaller too. This is done in the same way. You will see the text box under "Items"

I could not find this

davehc · 26 Jan 2011

Possibly you have too many icons on the desktop for it to work?
Go back and try to reduce ONLY the vertical spacing. This will make more room. Don't change the horizontal back again.
I have a pretty bare desktop so, fwiw, I have found 60 for horizontal and 40 for vertical works for me.

mitchell65 · 26 Jan 2011

ixodid said:

I tried increasing horizontal and vertical spacing quite a bit and it did help as expected, but not for all icons.

Any further ideas? I know this issue may sound picky but I spend a lot of time mousing over icons to see what the file is since I have many files of similar names.

( I realize I may need to re-think how I organize my desktop. )

Might also help to make the text smaller too. This is done in the same way. You will see the text box under "Items"

I could not find this

When you are in "Advanced Appearance Setting" Click on the arrow head that you clicked to select icon spacing and click on "Icon". Then the Font dialogue below will work. Just make the point size smaller!