How to get a “This PC” shortcut on the desktop in Windows 11

If you have used Windows for a very long time, you in all probability bear in mind the “My Computer” icon sitting in your desktop, prepared to offer you entry to your drives and folders. These days, Windows calls it “This PC,” however Windows 11 does not put the icon in your desktop by default. If you need that acquainted icon again, you may add it in a number of clicks.

Why put This PC in your desktop?

If you pin plenty of folders to “Quick entry” in File Explorer, the navigation pane can get fairly crowded. Having This PC in your desktop provides you one other technique to get to your folders with out working by means of that more and more busy sidebar.

It additionally provides you a helpful start line for searching your laptop’s information and storage. From there, you may see your inner drives, exterior drives, and different related places in a single place.

And in case you’ve been utilizing Windows for years, there’s one thing reassuring about having that acquainted laptop icon on the desktop the place you anticipate it to be.

How so as to add This PC to your Windows 11 desktop

The Desktop icon settings technique takes a number of clicks

You can drag This PC from File Explorer onto the desktop to create a shortcut. But if you’d like the precise Windows This PC icon, it is higher to make use of Windows’ Desktop icon settings. It provides This PC as a built-in Windows icon reasonably than a shortcut file, and you’ll change it on or off (or change its icon) from the identical window as the opposite system icons.

Here’s find out how to add it:

1. Right-click an empty space of your desktop and click on Personalize.
2. Click Themes within the Settings window.
3. Scroll all the way down to Related settings and click on Desktop icon settings. It opens in a small separate window.
4. Check the field subsequent to Computer. Don’t fear concerning the barely complicated title—that is the setting that provides This PC to your desktop.
5. Click Apply, then OK.

You’ll now see the This PC icon in your desktop. Double-click it, and Windows opens the This PC view in File Explorer, the place you may browse your drives, folders, and related gadgets simply as you usually would.

You can drag the icon wherever you need on the desktop, and it behaves like some other desktop icon. You also can right-click it to entry different choices, together with pinning it to Start or opening its properties.

If you modify your thoughts later, you may take away the icon simply as simply. Right-click an empty space of the desktop, choose Personalize, go to Themes > Desktop icon settings, uncheck Computer, and click on Apply.

What to do if you cannot see the This PC icon

Make certain Windows is displaying your desktop icons

If you have adopted the steps above however nonetheless cannot see This PC in your desktop, Windows could also be hiding your desktop icons altogether. This is simple to test:

1. Right-click an empty space of your desktop.
2. Hover over View.
3. Make certain Show desktop icons is checked.

If Show desktop icons was turned off, Windows hides each icon in your desktop, together with This PC. Turn it again on, and the This PC icon you added by means of Desktop icon settings ought to seem.

Add different built-in Windows icons to your desktop

Choose the icons you need to see

While you are in Desktop Icon Settings, you will discover that Computer is not the one built-in Windows icon you may add to your desktop. The different choices are:

• User’s Files: Opens your private person folder and its related information and folders.
• Network: Gives you entry to computer systems and different assets accessible in your community.
• Recycle Bin: Gives you entry to information you have deleted, so you may restore them or empty the bin. You also can change how Windows handles deleted information from its Properties menu. This icon is normally already on the desktop.
• Control Panel: Gives you a fast technique to open the normal Windows Control Panel.

Just test the packing containers for the icons you need, then click on Apply and OK.

You also can change the looks of those icons. Select an icon within the listing, click on Change Icon, and select one other icon from the accessible choices. You also can create custom icons in case you’re feeling artistic. If you favor the acquainted Windows icons, although, you may merely go away them as they’re.

You haven’t got so as to add all 5. If you solely need This PC in your desktop, go away the opposite packing containers unchecked.

Take your Windows nostalgia just a little additional

If you are including This PC to your desktop since you miss the best way Windows used to appear and feel, you may take that nostalgia just a little additional. StartAllBack lets you change several parts of Windows 11 to resemble earlier variations, together with the Start menu and taskbar.