How to Add “This PC” to Desktop in Windows 11/10? [Easy Steps]

When you install Windows 11 or Windows 10, the desktop usually appears very clean and minimal. Many users notice that the “This PC” icon is not available on the desktop by default. Instead, it is only accessible through File Explorer. While this design keeps the desktop clutter-free, it can make it slightly inconvenient for users who frequently access their drives, folders, and system locations.

The “This PC” icon is an important shortcut in Windows because it allows users to quickly view local disks, external drives, network locations, and system folders. For many people who are used to earlier Windows versions, such as Windows 7 or Windows 8, having This PC directly on the desktop makes navigation faster and more comfortable.

Adding This PC to the desktop is very simple and only takes a few steps through the Desktop Icon Settings panel. Once enabled, the icon will appear permanently on the desktop, and you will be able to open your system drives with a single click.

This guide explains how to add “This PC” to the desktop in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Let’s add the ‘This PC’ icon easily!

Table of Contents

How to Add “This PC” to Desktop in Windows 11 or 10?

To add “This PC” to the desktop in Windows 11 or Windows 10, right-click on the desktop and open Personalize. Then go to Themes and select Desktop icon settings. In the new window, check the box next to Computer and click Apply, followed by OK. The This PC icon will instantly appear on your desktop.

Below are the easy steps to add This PC to your desktop.

Step 1: Right-click on the Desktop

The first step is to open the desktop context menu.

Go to an empty area on your desktop screen where no icons or files are present. Now, right-click on the desktop using your mouse.

A menu will appear with several options such as View, Sort by, Refresh, New, and Personalize.

This menu allows you to adjust different desktop-related settings, including display options, icon arrangement, and personalization settings.

From this list, you need to select the Personalize option.

Once you click Personalize, Windows will open the Personalization settings window, where you can customize the appearance of your system.

Step 2: Open Personalization Settings

After selecting Personalize, the Settings app will open automatically and take you to the Personalization section.

This section allows users to modify several visual aspects of Windows, including:

Background settings
Themes
Lock screen
Colors
Fonts
Start menu customization

These options help users personalize their Windows experience according to their preferences.

To add This PC to the desktop, you need to access the Themes section from this page.

Look at the left side of the main panel of the settings window and locate the Themes option.

Click on Themes to continue.

Step 3: Navigate to the Themes Section

The Themes section controls the overall look and style of your Windows system.

A theme is a combination of background images, system colors, sounds, and icon settings that define how Windows appears on your computer.

Inside the Themes page, you will see options related to:

Current theme
Background images
Color settings
Sound settings
Mouse cursor
Desktop icons

Among these options, the one we need is Desktop icon settings.

This option allows users to control which default Windows icons appear on the desktop.

Locate the Desktop icon settings and click on it.

A small configuration window will open.

Step 4: Open Desktop Icon Settings

After clicking Desktop icon settings, a new window called Desktop Icon Settings will appear.

This window contains several checkboxes that represent different system icons.

The icons available here typically include:

Computer
Recycle Bin
Network
Control Panel
User’s Files

In modern Windows versions, Computer represents the This PC icon.

If the checkbox next to Computer is not selected, the icon will not appear on your desktop.

To add This PC to your desktop, simply click the checkbox next to Computer.

You can also enable other icons if you want them to appear on your desktop as well.

Step 5: Enable the “Computer” Checkbox

Now look carefully at the list of available desktop icons.

Find the checkbox labeled Computer.

This option represents the This PC shortcut that opens File Explorer and displays all your drives and storage locations.

Click on the checkbox beside Computer so that it becomes selected.

Once selected, Windows understands that you want the This PC icon to appear on your desktop.

You may also enable other icons, such as the Recycle Bin or Control Panel, if you prefer quick access to them.

After selecting Computer, the next step is to apply the changes.

Step 6: Apply the Changes

After selecting the Computer checkbox, look at the bottom of the Desktop Icon Settings window.

You will see two buttons called Apply and OK. Click Apply first to confirm the change. After that, click OK to close the window.

As soon as you apply the changes, the This PC icon will instantly appear on your desktop.

You can now double-click on this icon to open File Explorer and access your system drives and folders.

Step 7: Verify If the Icon is Added on Desktop

Once the settings window closes, return to your desktop screen.

You should now see the This PC icon displayed among your other desktop icons.

To confirm that everything is working correctly, simply double-click the icon.

The This PC window will open and show your local disks, external drives, and system folders.

This confirms that the icon has been successfully added to the desktop.

You can also drag and move the icon anywhere on the desktop to organize your workspace according to your preference.

FAQs

Why is the “This PC” icon not visible on my desktop?

The This PC icon is hidden by default in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft removed many system icons from the desktop to keep the interface cleaner. However, you can easily enable it through Desktop Icon Settings in the Personalization section.

Is “Computer” the same as “This PC”?

Yes, the Computer checkbox inside Desktop Icon Settings represents the This PC icon. In older versions of Windows, it was called My Computer or Computer, but in newer versions, it is renamed This PC.

Can I add other system icons to the desktop?

Yes, the Desktop Icon Settings window allows you to enable several icons, such as Recycle Bin, Network, Control Panel, and Users’ Files. Simply check the boxes next to the icons you want and click Apply.

Does this method work in both Windows 11 and Windows 10?

Yes, the process works almost identically in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Both systems include the Desktop Icon Settings option inside the Themes section of Personalization settings.

Can I remove the “This PC” icon later?

Yes, you can remove it anytime. Open Desktop Icon Settings again and uncheck the Computer option. Click Apply, and the icon will disappear from your desktop.