Desktop Icons - Add or Remove

How to Add or Remove a Default Desktop Icon in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to add or remove the default Computer, User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, or Control Panel desktop icons in Windows 7.

OPTION ONE

Through Desktop Icon Settings in Personalization

NOTE: This will only add the desktop icon for the current user (you), and not all users.
1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on the Change desktop icons link at the upper left corner. (See screenshot below)

3. To Add a Default Desktop Icon
A) In the top pane, check the desktop icons that you want to add. (See screenshot below step 5)

B) Go to step 5.
4. To Remove a Default Desktop Icon
A) In the top pane, uncheck the desktop icons that you want to remove. (See screenshot below step 5)
5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. Close the Personalization window. (See screenshot below step 2)

OPTION TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Add the "Computer" Desktop Icon for Current User Only
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Computer_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


2. To Add the "Computer" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Computer_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg


Download


3. To Remove the "Computer" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Computer_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


4. To Add the "Users' Files" Desktop Icon for Current User Only
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


5. To Add the "Users' Files" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

Download


6. To Remove the "Users' Files" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Users_Files_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


7. To Add the "Network" Desktop Icon for Current User Only
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


8. To Add the "Network" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Network_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

Download


9. To Remove the "Network" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Network_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


10. To Add the "Recycle Bin" Desktop Icon for Current User Only
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


11. To Add the "Recycle Bin" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

Download


12. To Remove the "Recycle Bin" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Recycle_Bin_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


13. To Add the "Control Panel" Desktop Icon for Current User Only
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


14. To Add the "Control Panel" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon_All_Users.reg

Download


15. To Remove the "Control Panel" Desktop Icon for All Users
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Control_Panel_Desktop_Icon.reg

Download


16. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

17. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

18. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

19. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

20. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg files if you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove the Desktop Toolbar on the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Add or Remove the Libraries Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Libraries Icon in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show Desktop Icons in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent the Windows 7 Recycle Bin Icon to Display
• How to Pin the Recycle Bin to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin Your User Files Folder to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin the Control Panel to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin Computer to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Easily Change the Windows Desktop Icons Size
• How to Add or Remove the HomeGroup Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default HomeGroup Icon in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Default Desktop Icons in Windows 7
• How to Turn Drop Shadows On or Off for Desktop Icons
• How to Create a "Desktop Icon Settings" Shortcut in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show the Text of Desktop Icons in Windows 7
• How to Create a "Internet Explorer" Desktop Icon in Windows 7

 

[BMN]

THE LIBRARIES AND HOMEGROUP ARE NOT CHOICES IN "CHANGE ICONS".
COMPUTER,USER FILES,NETWORK,RECYCLE BIN AND CONTROL PANEL ARE THE ONLY ICONS THAT FOLDER HAS.
THERE'S NO OPTION ON RIGHT CLICK EITHER.
A REAL SOLUTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANKS.

 

[Brink]

Hello BMN,

The tutorial is only for the default desktop icons that Libraries and HomeGroup are not a part of since they are not default desktop icons. Perhaps these tutorials will help you instead.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/34032-libraries-icon-change-default-icon.html

and

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/34683-homegroup-icon-change-default-icon.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[ShirleyE]

Add or Remove Icons

Yes I have downloaded the zip files that create the icons for all users. They work great with exception of the add computer icon for all users.
That zip file only works with the current user. And it is the only zip file that
doesn't save with name of all user on the end.

Is there any chance of getting the one that works for all users?

 

[Brink]

Hello Shirley, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry about that. The downloads have been fixed.

 

[ShirleyE]

Brink:

Thanks for the welcome. I download the add computer icon for all users and it worked. But now I need to remove the user files from the all users but the remove download only works with the current user. Can that also be fixed?

Thanks
Shirley

 

[Brink]

Shirley,

I double checked and the REG file to remove Computer for all users is correct. Did you log off and on, or restart the computer after merging the REG file to fully apply it?

 

[ShirleyE]

Brink:

Sorry to be confusing. I had also added the User File to the desktop for all users. And it is the remove user file for all users that didn't work. Only remove the User File off the desktop for the current logged in user.

Shirley

 

[Brink]

No problem Shirley.

The Add "User Files" to all users Desktop download was incorrect. It had the "current user" instead. I went through all of the downloads to make sure that they were correct. Be sure to log off and on, or restart the computer after merging the REG file.

 

[amir57]

Brink u saved my life bro thanks a lot keep doing what ur good at don't stop

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Amir. Thank you.