Hide and show system icons on your desktop.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Click the start button.
  2. Type run and press enter when the Run item is highlighted.

  3. Enter the following:

    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0



  4. Press enter or click OK.




  5. A window should appear that allows you to select which system icons will appear on the desktop.




  6. Make your selection and click OK.

 

You can make a shortcut to access the Desktop Icon Settings window more easily in the future!

 

Make a Shortcut

  1. Right-click on the desktop or in a folder.
  2. Hover over New and click Shortcut.
  3. Enter the command from step 3 in the previous section.



  4. Click Next.
  5. Type a name for the shortcut.



  6. Click Finish.
  7. You should now have an icon that looks like this.



  8. Let's change the icon to the proper icon. Right-click the icon.
  9. Click Properties.
  10. Click Change Icon.



  11. Paste the following in the box "Look for icons in this file" and press enter.

    Icon
    %SystemRoot%\System32\desk.cpl




  12. Click OK.
  13. Click OK again on the Properties window.
  14. You shortcut should now have the correct icon.