Showing the “This PC” icon (formerly known as My Computer or Computer) on the Windows 10 desktop is very helpful in for several reasons. For example, you can double-click on it to open the File Explorer. You can also access system properties by right-clicking on the “This PC” icon and selecting “Properties.” Additionally, if you are moving from older versions such as Windows 7 or Windows 8, having this specific icon on your desktop gives you a familiar feeling.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to display the This PC icon on your desktop in Windows 10. Optionally, you can also learn how to change its icon. Let’s get started.
Related: How to show This PC on Windows 11
Show ‘This PC’ Icon on Desktop in Windows 10
- Use the “Windows key + I” shortcut to open Settings.
- Go to the “Personalization” > “Themes” section.
- Scroll down to “Related Settings” and click on “Desktop Icon Settings.”
- Select the “Computer” checkbox.
- Click “OK.”
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, open the Settings in Windows 10 by pressing the “Windows key + I” shortcut. You can also press the Start button and then click the Gear icon in the Start menu.
In the Settings window, click on “Personalization” and then go to the “Themes” tab on the sidebar.
Scroll down to the “Related Settings” section on the Themes page and click the “Desktop Icon Settings” option.
Now, select the “Computer” checkbox under the Desktop Icons section and click “OK.”
Note: If you want to allow other themes to be able to change the desktop icons, make sure the “Allow themes to change desktop icons” checkbox is selected.
(Optional) Change the Default Icon of “This PC”
If you customize the icon of This PC to match your system theme or color scheme, follow the below steps:
Select the “Computer” icon under Desktop Icons and click the “Change Icon” button.
Choose the icon of your choice from the available list. If you prefer to set a custom icon, click the Browse button, select an icon file (.ico), and click “Open.” Click the OK button to save changes. With that, you’ve changed the default icon of This PC.
That is it. If you go to the desktop (press Windows key + D), you will see the This PC icon.
Remove ‘This PC’ Icon from Desktop in Windows 10
If you don’t want to see the This PC icon on your desktop, simply drag & drop it onto the Recycle Bin icon.
Alternatively, open the Settings app, go to Personalization > Themes page, click on Desktop Icon Settings, uncheck the Computer checkbox, and click OK.
Troubleshooting
If you are not seeing the icon on your desktop, it might be because the desktop icons are hidden. To fix it, right-click on your desktop, select “View” and then select “Show desktop icons”. Once you enable this option, you will see a checkmark next to it.
Wrapping Up — Adding ‘This PC’ to Desktop
As you can see, adding and displaying the This PC icon on your Windows 10 desktop is a simple task. If you want, you can follow the steps I’ve shown to change the default icon to match your current theme or color scheme.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I will help.
