By default, Windows 11 and Windows 10 desktops only display the Recycle Bin icon, while other system icons like This PC and Network are hidden. One of the main reasons for this is to reduce the redundancy as these icons are available in the File Explorer. However, if you are someone who needs quick and instant access to your Network folder, you can easily configure Windows to show the Network icon directly on your desktop. Fortunately, you can do it quite easily using the “Desktop Icon Settings” tool.
In this quick and simple tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps to display the Network icon on your desktop in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Let’s get started.
Show Network Icon on Desktop on Windows 11 & 10
- Right-click the Start button.
- Select the “Settings” option.
- Go to the “Personalization” tab.
- Click the “Themes” option.
- Click the “Desktop icon settings” option under “Related settings”.
- Select the “Network” checkbox.
- Click the “OK” button.
- The network icon appears on the desktop.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
Either press the “Windows key + I” shortcut or right-click the Start button and select “Settings” to open the Settings window. Once it opens, go to the “Personalization” tab on the left sidebar and click the “Themes” option.
On the “Themes” page, you can customize and change Windows themes. Here, click the “Desktop icon settings” option under the “Related settings” section.
The action action opens the Desktop Icons window where you can show or hide several system icons. Here, select the “Network” checkbox and click the “OK” button to save the changes.
As soon as you do that, you will see the Network icon on the desktop. Double-clicking on it opens the Network folder in the File Explorer from where you can access all your network shares.
That is all. It is that simple to show the network icon on the desktop on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to help.
